IndiGo’s massive flight cancellations have created huge chaos across the country. While hundreds of domestic flights were cancelled for several days, many people noticed something unusual — most international IndiGo flights were running normally.
This raised an important question across social media: Why were only domestic routes affected?
A viral post by a user claiming to be an airline executive has now sparked a major debate online. According to them, the cancellations were not random at all, but “strategic and planned”. Their explanation has taken the internet by storm, with people sharing their own opinions and questions.
Strategic Pattern or Accidental Chaos? Internet Starts a Debate
A user on X, claiming to be an airline executive, posted a detailed breakdown of IndiGo’s flight operations during the crisis.
Their main claim was simple:
“Domestic flights suffered, international flights were protected.”
This immediately caught attention because the pattern looked too clear to ignore. Social media users began analysing the situation, trying to understand whether this was a business decision, a planning error, or something else.
Why International Flights Were Protected, According to the Viral Post
The viral post suggested that IndiGo avoided cancelling international flights for a few strong reasons:
Higher Revenue & Better Profit
International routes usually generate higher earnings in USD, giving airlines more profit per passenger.
So cancelling these flights would result in bigger financial losses.
Stricter Compensation Rules
International passengers are protected by stronger foreign regulations, which means airlines may have to pay heavy compensation if a flight is cancelled.
To avoid these penalties, airlines prefer not to disturb international schedules.
Lower Fuel Costs & Better Route Economics
Airlines often uplift fuel abroad where prices may be lower.
So these routes naturally have better cost efficiency and are more valuable to maintain.
Avoiding Global Reputation Damage
International flight cancellations get worldwide attention, affecting brand image.
Protecting these routes helps IndiGo maintain its global reputation.
Domestic Flights Faced the Maximum Impact
According to the viral explanation, domestic routes were hit because:
- They bring in lower margins
- Cancellations do not trigger strict compensation rules like in foreign countries
- Domestic disruption stays primarily within India, keeping global impact minimal
The user claimed that this imbalance created the “perfect pressure” on passengers and authorities during the ongoing debate on pilot duty-time regulations (FDTL).
Was This a Strategy Linked to FDTL Rules?
The viral post claimed that the widespread domestic cancellations helped build public pressure around the pilot duty-time limits introduced by the DGCA.
According to the post, this chaos helped push the narrative that the new FDTL rules were impractical and needed rollback.
IndiGo, however, officially said the disruptions were caused by planning gaps, not intentional strategy.
Aviation Experts Also Comment on the Situation
Aviation expert Sanjay Lazar responded online, saying the entire situation “appears contrived”, adding more fuel to the debate.
Many social media users also agreed that the difference between domestic and international cancellations was too sharp to be a coincidence.
Others argued that big airlines always protect profitable routes first — a basic business principle.
Passengers Are Still Unhappy With IndiGo’s Response
IndiGo issued an apology online, but the message did not satisfy many customers.
With hundreds of flights cancelled and thousands stranded, passengers demanded clearer answers and better crisis handling.
What Happens Next?
The situation continues to evolve.
If cancellations continue, there may be:
- More pressure on IndiGo
- Increased monitoring by aviation authorities
- Bigger demands for compensation from passengers
Only time will tell whether this was a planning failure, business strategy, or something in between.
Conclusion
The ongoing IndiGo crisis has raised serious questions about operational planning, route priorities, and transparency.
While the airline maintains that the disruptions were due to scheduling gaps during the rollout of new pilot duty rules, the internet believes there is a bigger pattern behind the scenes.
The viral explanation about why international flights remained stable has opened a new debate about airline strategy and passenger treatment.
With thousands still affected, the public now wants clearer communication, fairer policies, and better preparedness from one of India’s biggest airlines.
FAQs
Why were IndiGo’s international flights mostly unaffected?
Because international routes bring higher revenue, face stricter compensation laws, and affect the airline’s global reputation. Therefore, airlines naturally protect these flights.
Why were so many domestic flights cancelled?
Domestic routes have lower profit margins and fewer legal penalties for cancellations, making them easier to cut during operational stress.
Was this cancellation pattern intentional?
A viral post claims it was strategic, but IndiGo denies this and says the chaos happened due to planning gaps under new FDTL norms.
What are FDTL rules?
Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) are regulations that decide how long pilots can work to ensure safety and reduce fatigue.
Will the situation improve soon?
IndiGo has stated that operations will gradually stabilise, but continued disruptions may last for a few more days.