New Delhi, Dec. 7 -- An unprecedented crisis gripped India's aviation sector in the past week, leaving thousands of passengers stranded as flights were first delayed and then cancelled. At the centre of the disruption is IndiGo, which has cancelled more than 2,000 flights, blaming "unforeseen operational challenges."

In reality, the trigger, the introduction of the Crew and Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules, was hardly unforeseen. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) drafted revised norms in January 2024, gave airlines months to prepare with a phased rollout beginning July 2025, and scheduled the final phase for November. Yet IndiGo, operating on a lean staffing model designed to minimize costs, was unprepared.

The cu...