"Budget airline IndiGo cancelled some 500 flights on Friday, including all of those from the capital, New Delhi. It is the fourth day of cancellations after the low-cost company failed to plan for new regulations that require longer rest for employees and limit night flying hours for greater safety. Delhi airport announced that all IndiGo departures, believed to total 235, had been cancelled on Friday."
"A temporary exemption from stricter night-duty limits was granted on Friday, offering some short-term breathing room. The Civil Aviation Ministry says the airline underestimated how the new rules would affect pilot availability. Other carriers have not reported similar problems, and shares in the low-cost carrier dropped nearly 3% on Friday as part of a weekly slump of 10.3%. Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers have demanded a discussion in parliament as travelers continue to face significant delays."
"The low-cost carrier operates roughly two-thirds of India's domestic flights and has warned that normal operations will not be restored until February 10. IndiGo has said the shortages stem from planning gaps as it attempted to implement the second phase of the new duty rules. Passengers have been stranded at major airports, waiting for hours with little information. Some have slept on terminal floors."
IndiGo cancelled roughly 500 flights nationwide, including all departures from New Delhi, after failing to plan for new regulations requiring longer crew rest and restricted night flying. Major hubs reported hundreds of grounded flights: about 235 departures from Delhi, 104 in Mumbai, 102 in Bengaluru, and 92 in Hyderabad, with Chennai also canceling flights until 6 p.m. A temporary exemption eased night-duty limits briefly. The Civil Aviation Ministry said the airline underestimated the impact on pilot availability. Other carriers reported no similar issues. Passengers were stranded for hours, some slept on terminal floors, and parliamentary scrutiny increased. IndiGo expects normal operations by February 10 and attributes disruptions to planning gaps during the second phase of duty-rule implementation.
Read at www.dw.com
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