IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers on Friday said the airline expects to have fewer than 1,000 flight cancellations on Saturday. He added that the situation is anticipated to normalise between December 10 and 15, 2025.

The comments came on a day when the airline cancelled more than 1,000 flights, accounting for over half of its usual daily operations. In a video message, Elbers apologised for the major inconvenience caused to passengers due to the disruptions.

"Regrettably, earlier measures of the last few days have proven not to be enough. So we decided today for a reboot of all our systems and schedules, resulting in the highest number of cancellations so far, but imperative for progressive improvements starting tomorrow onwards," Elbers said.

What can passengers expect next?

Elbers said the airline expects cancellations to fall below 1,000 on Saturday. He also acknowledged the support of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in easing the implementation of specific Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL).

"With these actions, we expect tomorrow to have cancellations below 1,000. The support of DGCA, in providing specific FDTL implementation relief, is of great help," he said.

What caused the disruptions?

Gaps in planning the second phase of the new Flight Duty Time Limitations norms are a key factor behind the current flight disruptions. The DGCA has kept the implementation of these norms in abeyance, which has provided temporary relief for the airline.

IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, generally operates around 2,300 flights daily.

(With agency inputs)