Uncanceled flight.

"For years, IndiGo with a 65% domestic market share has helped Indians realise their dreams of flying," "But last week changed it all: IndiGo canceled at least 2,000 flights because of shortage of pilots after it failed to plan adequately for new rules limiting how many hours they work." Reuters. "The rules include longer weekly rest for pilots (48 hours instead of 36) and tighter limits on night landings (two instead of six) after years of fatigue complaints to the regulator." "India's aviation watchdog introduced the new duty rules nearly two years ago to align with global standards, with airlines meant to adopt them in two phases - in June and November this year." Air India says it has implemented them, IndiGo has admitted failure to do so. BBC. "India's regulators are meant to be quasi-judicial bodies - independent, evidence-driven and powerful enough to discipline the biggest corporations." "In practice, most regulators resemble departments inside ministries, staffed by junior officers who simply cannot stand up to billion dollar incumbents." "Companies bet on getting the rules changed later, because history suggested they would." "When rules are unstable, discretionary and revisable under pressure, firms learn that the real game is not competition or efficiency, but regulatory capture," wrote Ajit Ranade. "Unlike Europe and US, India offers no financial compensation for airline-caused delays." "The 'refund and meals only' solution for even an airline's willful negligence is an open invitation to carriers to behave as though operational responsibility is optional." "Passengers shouldn't be expected to trust a system that demands everything from them - money, patience, silence in adversity - while demanding almost nothing from the industry, barring heavy taxes," wrote Manju V. Indian politicians like to boast that India is the fourth largest economy in the world, with a GDP apparently at $4.19 trillion  (cleartax.in) but campaign on poverty when running for elections. Which means that whatever is classed as luxury, according to their whims, is taxed heavily. Flying is seen as luxury and so airline turbine fuel (ATF) has an excise duty of 11% plus VAT charged by states (ET). ATF makes up 40% of an airline's expenses. Exorbitant airport user fees also add significantly to the cost of flying. ET. Three days ago a fire at a popular night club in the coastal city of Goa killed 25 people. BBC. It seems that the club was in serious violations of building codes and the owners were asked to submit documents and permissions but senior police officers interfered to stop these notices. "These officers even pressured local police to close an FIR" against the club. TOI. What has a nightclub fire got to do with flight cancellations by IndiGo? It appears that the owners of the club, brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, flew to to Phuket in Thailand within hours after the fire. By IndiGo. TOI. Flights canceled. Revelers roasted. The rich fly away. Helped by officials. Flight uncanceled.