Why 2.6 Lakh Passengers Faced Delays and Cancellations in November: DGCA Data Reveals

India’s domestic air travel market is expanding rapidly. However, new data suggests this growth is built on fragile operational systems. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) released its traffic analysis for November 2025. This report highlights a significant surge in passenger disruption.

In November, 1,56,768 passengers faced delays exceeding two hours. An additional 1,12,112 passengers were impacted by flight cancellations. This combined disruption affected nearly 2.7 lakh travelers in one month. Airlines spent Rs 210.23 lakh on facilitation for delayed passengers. They also paid Rs 40.79 lakh in compensation for cancellations. This underscores the scale of inconvenience borne by the flying public.

Operational Strain on Major Carriers

IndiGo operational disruption November figures were the highest among all carriers. The country’s largest airline hit 89,826 passengers with cancellations. An additional 75,150 passengers faced delays over two hours. This operational strain occurred even as IndiGo’s passenger load factor (PLF) rose to 88.7 percent. The DGCA flight delays cancellations data points to a major issue.

The Air India group also contributed heavily to the disruption. They impacted 12,488 passengers with cancellations. Another 46,323 passengers suffered long delays. The group's PLF also saw a sharp increase to 87.5 percent. Other carriers like SpiceJet and Akasa Air reported similar stress. SpiceJet saw 26,241 delayed passengers. Akasa Air recorded 3,329 affected by cancellations.

Root Cause: FDTL and Crew Shortages

Industry analysis suggests the disruptions stem from the revised FDTL norms impact. The DGCA implemented Phase II of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules on November 1. These rules mandate increased rest time for pilots. IndiGo, despite advance notice, failed to adjust its crew rostering. This led to a significant crew shortfall. The lack of adequate reserve crew caused a cascading failure. This resulted in mass cancellations and delays across the network.

• IndiGo acknowledged gaps in planning and assessment.
• The DGCA issued a show-cause notice to the airline's CEO.
• The regulator later mandated a 10% reduction in IndiGo’s winter schedule.

Widening Gap in Service Quality

Passenger complaints rose alongside the operational chaos. Scheduled domestic airlines received 1,196 complaints in November. This equates to 0.78 complaints per 10,000 passengers carried. Flight-related issues were the main source of grievance. This highlights persistent shortcomings in punctuality and planning. The India domestic aviation performance shows a widening gap. Growth is outpacing the carriers' ability to maintain service quality.

This situation is a major concern for the entire sector. The DGCA is now pushing for greater operational resilience. Travelers seeking more information on these developments can find comprehensive commercial aviation news at flying.flights. The regulator’s actions signal a zero-tolerance approach to non-compliance with safety-critical rules. The market leader, IndiGo, and the Air India group must now prioritize operational stability over aggressive expansion.