He claimed that the domestic flights were the worst affected, as international flights were largely protected. Chaos continued for IndiGo for the third consecutive day, as over 550 domestic and international flights were cancelled and delayed across multiple airports in the country due to "operational disruptions". As passengers continue to bear the brunt of cancelled and delayed flights, a pilot claimed that this is not random chaos but strategic.
He claimed that the domestic flights were the worst affected, as international flights were largely protected.
"Cancellations weren't random -- they were strategic. Domestic flights took the maximum hit. International flights were largely protected -- estimated to be less than 10% cancellations, mostly on connecting legs -- because these routes deliver USD revenue, higher yields, lower fuel uplifting costs, and cancelling overseas flights triggers tougher passenger compensation rules under foreign regulations and reputational issues," the pilot explained in a post on X.
The pilot, who goes by Griffin on social media, said that this was done to create visible pain for the flyers and public pressure in a bid to justify the pushback against the flight duty time limitations (FDTL) rules.
He claimed: "In short, they shielded profitable high-margin international routes and sacrificed low-margin domestic sectors, creating visible pain for flyers and public pressure — a convenient backdrop to justify a push for FDTL rollback. That’s not random chaos — that’s calculated strategic planning!"
The FDTL rules focus on the duration of pilots' duty, their flying hours and the number of night landings they may perform and the minimum rest they must get. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) revised these limits in January last year after a thorough review of fatigue reports and global standards.
The key changes as per these norms are 48 consecutive hours of weekly rest for pilots, night defined as 00:00-06:00 instead of 00:00-05:00, a limit of two night landings instead of six, no more than two consecutive night duties, and mandatory roster adjustments and quarterly fatigue reporting.
The revised DGCA FDTL rules, notified on May 31 last year, were first meant to take effect on June 1, 2024. However, their implementation was pushed to a phased rollout from July 1, 2025, to November 1 this year. Due to this transition, IndiGo was the worst affected as it cancelled more than 400 flights and delayed hundreds more.
RBI rate cut: Sensex zooms 400 pts from day's low, Nifty crosses 26,000 mark 
RBI MPC meeting: Central bank slashes repo rate by 25 bps to 5.25% from 5.5%
RBI Monetary Policy 2025 on GDP: FY 2025-26 GDP growth forecast revised to 7.3%, up from 6.8%
RBI lowers inflation projection to 2% for FY2026, says Governor Sanjay Malhotra
ITC Hotels shares fall after Rs 3,856 crore block deal; BAT likely seller; key details
Modi–Putin Car Diplomacy Returns | A Warm Welcome That Signals Deep Strategic Bonds
Aruna Tummala, Business Manager At Corpus Software, Talks About Her BT Golf 25-26 Experience
IndiGo Chaos: Mass Flight Cancellations Leave Passengers Stranded At Major Airports
Exclusive: President Putin On US ‘Shuttle Diplomacy’ After 5-Hour Meeting With Kushner
Putin In India: Why India Is Boosting Russia Ties Amid Western Pressure
Kaynes Tech shares extend fall, sink 8% today as Kotak flags disclosure gaps; co issues clarificationRBI rate cut: Sensex zooms 400 pts from day's low, Nifty crosses 26,000 mark ITC Hotels shares fall after Rs 3,856 crore block deal; BAT likely seller; key details
Tenneco Clean Air Q2 results: Net profit rises 10% to Rs 150 cr; revenue up 10% 
Park Medi World IPO to open on December 10; key details of 100th mainboard IPO of 2025
