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Discussions around the 8th Pay Commission have sparked nationwide curiosity about its implementation and timeline. In response to the speculation about the rollout that may take effect on January 1, 2026, the Centre has clarified that no decision has been made on the implementation of the 8th Pay Commission from that date.&nbsp;In a written reply to Parliament, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said the government will decide the implementation date of the 8th Pay Commission. He confirmed that the 8th Central Pay Commission has been set up and its Terms of Reference were notified on November 3, 2025. However, he avoided committing to an implementation date, stating that the date “shall be decided by the government”.&nbsp;"The 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC) has already been constituted. The Terms of Reference (ToR) of the 8th Central Pay Commission have been notified vide Ministry of Finance Resolution dated November 3, 2025," said Chaudhary.<h3>The commission will outline its own process: MoS</h3>As a result, this uncertainty has become a major concern for employees. With the 7th Pay Commission ending on 31 December 2025, unions expected the ToR to clearly state 1 January 2026 as the start date for new salaries and pensions, resulting in several others remaining anxious about a possible delay due to a lack of clarity.&nbsp;Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary also noted that the commission will outline its own process as well as methodology for formulating its recommendations. He reiterated that the decision to implement the date of the 8th Pay Commission will be made later, and added that the commission may take around 18 months from the date of notification to submit its report.&nbsp;Based on the government data, there are a total of 50.14 lakh central government employees, and nearly 69 lakh people are pensioners in the country. These employees will be directly affected by the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC).

Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said the government will decide the implementation date of the 8th Pay Commission. He confirmed that the 8th Central Pay Commission has been set up and its Terms of Reference were notified on November 3, 2025.

Discussions around the 8th Pay Commission have sparked nationwide curiosity about its implementation and timeline. In response to the speculation about the rollout that may take effect on January 1, 2026, the Centre has clarified that no decision has been made on the implementation of the 8th Pay Commission from that date. In a written reply to Parliament, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said the government will decide the implementation date of the 8th Pay Commission. He confirmed that the 8th Central Pay Commission has been set up and its Terms of Reference were notified on November 3, 2025. However, he avoided committing to an implementation date, stating that the date “shall be decided by the government”. "The 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC) has already been constituted. The Terms of Reference (ToR) of the 8th Central Pay Commission have been notified vide Ministry of Finance Resolution dated November 3, 2025," said Chaudhary. The commission will outline its own process: MoS As a result, this uncertainty has become a major concern for employees. With the 7th Pay Commission ending on 31 December 2025, unions expected the ToR to clearly state 1 January 2026 as the start date for new salaries and pensions, resulting in several others remaining anxious about a possible delay due to a lack of clarity. Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary also noted that the commission will outline its own process as well as methodology for formulating its recommendations. He reiterated that the decision to implement the date of the 8th Pay Commission will be made later, and added that the commission may take around 18 months from the date of notification to submit its report. Based on the government data, there are a total of 50.14 lakh central government employees, and nearly 69 lakh people are pensioners in the country. These employees will be directly affected by the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC).

Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said the government will decide the implementation date of the 8th Pay Commission. He confirmed that the 8th Central Pay Commission has been set up and its Terms of Reference were notified on November 3, 2025.

When will the 8th Pay Commission start? Expected rollout date, emoluments & more — Govt shares major updates

US President Donald Trump's response to Netflix's plans to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery's (WBD) film studios and streaming assets was, "it could be a problem." Now, multiple reports suggest a possible reason: his son-in-law Jared Kushner’s investment firm is involved in the larger, rival bid by Paramount Skydance to acquire the entire WBD company. Larry Ellison, the Oracle founder and a Trump ally, is also part of the Paramount hostile bid, which totals around a $108 billion all-cash offer made directly to WBD shareholders, bypassing its board.<h2>What did Trump say about the Netflix-WBD acquisition?</h2>Speaking at the Kennedy Center on December 7, two days after Netflix's proposed $72 billion deal for WBD assets, including HBO Max, was announced, Trump said the deal "could be a problem" due to Netflix's dominant market share. With over 300 million subscribers, which he said could "go up a lot" post-merger, the deal might violate antitrust laws that prevent any player from controlling 50 per cent or more of the market. Trump also said he would be "personally involved" in the regulatory review, which is unusual intervention for a president. The Justice Department will also scrutinise the Netflix deal, which, if approved, would close in the third quarter of 2026.Already, Hollywood unions like the Writers Guild of America are against the Netflix-WBD deal, citing potential job losses, reduced content diversity, and higher subscription costs.<h2>Trump may have a personal interest in WBD deal</h2>Larry Ellison is the father of Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, a Trump ally. The Paramount bid also includes RedBird Capital and Middle Eastern sovereign funds from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. Unlike Netflix’s offer, Paramount’s bid targets WBD’s entire portfolio, including CNN and TNT. Remember how much Trump hates CNN?<h2>The Trump son-in-law angle: How is Jared Kushner involved in Paramount bid for WBD?</h2>One of the financiers backing Paramount’s proposal is Affinity Partners, Kushner’s private equity firm. Kushner, a former White House advisor, stands to benefit from the bid, raising significant conflict-of-interest concerns given Trump’s public opposition to the Netflix deal.&nbsp;Trump has denied discussing the bid with Kushner, stating that neither Netflix nor Paramount are "friends of mine" and that he will do what is right.But reportedly, &nbsp;Ellison called Trump after the Netflix announcement to warn that the deal would hurt competition. Trump has a history of intervening in media group decisions for concessions, including approving the Paramount-Skydance merger after CBS fired his critics.<h2>WBD is now in a bind: Netflix or Paramount?</h2>The company must review the Paramount offer and recommend a course to shareholders within 10 days, while facing a potential $2.8 billion breakup fee to Netflix if it switches suitors. With Trump and his family involved, the legacy media conglomerate faces a highly complicated and politically charged acquisition battle.

Donald Trump has expressed scepticism about Netflix’s $72 billion Warner Bros Discovery deal. It has now emerged that his son-in-law Jared Kushner is one of the people behind Paramount’s $108 billion rival bid. The saga now reeks of conflict-of-interest and antitrust concerns


US President Donald Trump's response to Netflix's plans to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery's (WBD) film studios and streaming assets was, "it could be a problem." Now, multiple reports suggest a possible reason: his son-in-law Jared Kushner’s investment firm is involved in the larger, rival bid by Paramount Skydance to acquire the entire WBD company. Larry Ellison, the Oracle founder and a Trump ally, is also part of the Paramount hostile bid, which totals around a $108 billion all-cash offer made directly to WBD shareholders, bypassing its board. What did Trump say about the Netflix-WBD acquisition? Speaking at the Kennedy Center on December 7, two days after Netflix's proposed $72 billion deal for WBD assets, including HBO Max, was announced, Trump said the deal "could be a problem" due to Netflix's dominant market share. With over 300 million subscribers, which he said could "go up a lot" post-merger, the deal might violate antitrust laws that prevent any player from controlling 50 per cent or more of the market. Trump also said he would be "personally involved" in the regulatory review, which is unusual intervention for a president. The Justice Department will also scrutinise the Netflix deal, which, if approved, would close in the third quarter of 2026. Already, Hollywood unions like the Writers Guild of America are against the Netflix-WBD deal, citing potential job losses, reduced content diversity, and higher subscription costs. Trump may have a personal interest in WBD deal Larry Ellison is the father of Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, a Trump ally. The Paramount bid also includes RedBird Capital and Middle Eastern sovereign funds from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. Unlike Netflix’s offer, Paramount’s bid targets WBD’s entire portfolio, including CNN and TNT. Remember how much Trump hates CNN? The Trump son-in-law angle: How is Jared Kushner involved in Paramount bid for WBD? One of the financiers backing Paramount’s proposal is Affinity Partners, Kushner’s private equity firm. Kushner, a former White House advisor, stands to benefit from the bid, raising significant conflict-of-interest concerns given Trump’s public opposition to the Netflix deal. Trump has denied discussing the bid with Kushner, stating that neither Netflix nor Paramount are "friends of mine" and that he will do what is right. But reportedly, Ellison called Trump after the Netflix announcement to warn that the deal would hurt competition. Trump has a history of intervening in media group decisions for concessions, including approving the Paramount-Skydance merger after CBS fired his critics. WBD is now in a bind: Netflix or Paramount? The company must review the Paramount offer and recommend a course to shareholders within 10 days, while facing a potential $2.8 billion breakup fee to Netflix if it switches suitors. With Trump and his family involved, the legacy media conglomerate faces a highly complicated and politically charged acquisition battle.

Donald Trump has expressed scepticism about Netflix’s $72 billion Warner Bros Discovery deal. It has now emerged that his son-in-law Jared Kushner is one of the people behind Paramount’s $108 billion rival bid. The saga now reeks of conflict-of-interest and antitrust concerns

Trump opposing Netflix - Warner deal because his son-in-law is involved in rival bid by Paramount?

Reddit appears to be down for the second day in a row for thousands of users. Reddit is the heart of the Internet — or the “toilet of the Internet,” depending on your likes and dislikes. The discussion forum's downtimes are becoming a frequent issue. The latest is prompting Redditors to complain about what they see as lax attention from Reddit engineers to improving and stabilising the site. Is Reddit losing the game?<h2>Latest on Reddit downtime</h2>Reddit global outage affected thousands of users since late Monday, with 24,000 users filing reports on outage-tracker site DownDetector by Tuesday. About 73 per cent of complaints concerned site inaccessibility (website not loading), while 22 per cent reported server-connection issues, and 5 per cent described app problems. Many users saw “Internal Server Error” messages; others said the app froze or crashed, individual feeds wouldn’t load, and many features like posting, commenting, browsing subreddits failed on both web and mobile versions. The outage is worldwide, hitting major regions including the US, India and Europe. The global demand on Reddit’s servers appears to be straining the infrastructure.<h2>What is Reddit saying about the outage?</h2>On its own status dashboard, Reddit flagged “elevated errors” beginning late Monday and said engineers were investigating. The problem may be stemming from server or backend instabilities rather than a single user issue.<h2>What are Reddit users saying?</h2>Frustrated redditors took to other social platforms mocking the outage, with some joking about a “meme takeover” on X (formerly Twitter) while Reddit was offline. Reports of pages failing to load, error messages and crashes poured in, with one user lamenting: “Every scroll attempt hurts because is Reddit down.” Others complained that, despite being a massive social media platform, Reddit seems unable to guarantee stable access.<h2>For many, Reddit is a go-to hub for news, entertainment, community and support</h2>When Reddit goes down, billions of conversations are disrupted, &nbsp;as people use it for community discussions, and even serious discourse.Reddit faced repeated outages throughout 2025, some of which affected up to 100,000 users globally. Reddit's usual response is to acknowledge “elevated errors,” issue fixes and restore services, but the pattern is persistent.This is raising questions about Reddit’s infrastructure stability, engineering priorities, and commitment to reliable user experience.&nbsp;

Reddit has suffered a major global outage with users reporting errors, crashes and loading failures on both web and app versions. Questions are being raised about its 24/7 reliability

Reddit appears to be down for the second day in a row for thousands of users. Reddit is the heart of the Internet — or the “toilet of the Internet,” depending on your likes and dislikes. The discussion forum's downtimes are becoming a frequent issue. The latest is prompting Redditors to complain about what they see as lax attention from Reddit engineers to improving and stabilising the site. Is Reddit losing the game? Latest on Reddit downtime Reddit global outage affected thousands of users since late Monday, with 24,000 users filing reports on outage-tracker site DownDetector by Tuesday. About 73 per cent of complaints concerned site inaccessibility (website not loading), while 22 per cent reported server-connection issues, and 5 per cent described app problems. Many users saw “Internal Server Error” messages; others said the app froze or crashed, individual feeds wouldn’t load, and many features like posting, commenting, browsing subreddits failed on both web and mobile versions. The outage is worldwide, hitting major regions including the US, India and Europe. The global demand on Reddit’s servers appears to be straining the infrastructure. What is Reddit saying about the outage? On its own status dashboard, Reddit flagged “elevated errors” beginning late Monday and said engineers were investigating. The problem may be stemming from server or backend instabilities rather than a single user issue. What are Reddit users saying? Frustrated redditors took to other social platforms mocking the outage, with some joking about a “meme takeover” on X (formerly Twitter) while Reddit was offline. Reports of pages failing to load, error messages and crashes poured in, with one user lamenting: “Every scroll attempt hurts because is Reddit down.” Others complained that, despite being a massive social media platform, Reddit seems unable to guarantee stable access. For many, Reddit is a go-to hub for news, entertainment, community and support When Reddit goes down, billions of conversations are disrupted, as people use it for community discussions, and even serious discourse. Reddit faced repeated outages throughout 2025, some of which affected up to 100,000 users globally. Reddit's usual response is to acknowledge “elevated errors,” issue fixes and restore services, but the pattern is persistent. This is raising questions about Reddit’s infrastructure stability, engineering priorities, and commitment to reliable user experience.

Reddit has suffered a major global outage with users reporting errors, crashes and loading failures on both web and app versions. Questions are being raised about its 24/7 reliability

Reddit down for thousands of users in India, US, Europe

Paramount Skydance on Monday (Dec 8) made a hostile 108.4-billion-dollar all-cash offer for the whole of the Warner Bros Discovery empire, in a tender that bypassed the WBD board and went directly to shareholders, just days after Netflix announced the acquisition of the film and television studios and streaming assets of the entertainment conglomerate. With the Paramount bid, WBD is now at the centre of a high-stakes contest between Netflix and Paramount, backed by Oracle founder Larry Ellison, days after what appeared to be a near-certain announcement from the streaming giant that it would acquire the prized studio and streaming operations of WBD.&nbsp;<h2>Paramount Skydance makes a 30-dollar-per-share proposal</h2>Paramount’s proposal has 54 billion dollars in committed debt from major banks, along with equity from RedBird Capital and Ellison-aligned investors, reports said. Paramount argues its offer provides 18 billion dollars more in cash than Netflix’s. It claims that its bid will face less regulatory scrutiny. It noted that Netflix’s US market share, if it merges with WBD’s streaming assets, would exceed 50 per cent and draw antitrust concerns from the Department of Justice.<h2>WBD has been looking for suitors</h2>Amid falling cable revenues, WBD CEO David Zaslav has been looking to pare losses. Formal bids for WBD emerged in late November, with Netflix aggressively seeking WBD’s studios and streaming assets, including HBO Max, in a deal valued at 72 billion dollars in equity, at 27.75 dollars per share.<h2>How is Paramount’s bid different?</h2>Paramount seeks to acquire the entire company — Warner Bros studios, HBO Max, CNN, Discovery networks and cable channels. Besides Ellison, Paramount is backed by Middle Eastern financing, and has been positioning itself as the only “full-service” buyer.<h2>What is happening with the Netflix–WBD negotiations?</h2>The WBD board on 4 December granted Netflix exclusive negotiating rights and accepted a 5-billion-dollar breakup fee. Paramount accused WBD of a “rigged” process and failure to honour fiduciary duties, saying in a &nbsp;letter that Netflix’s bid carried “substantial risks.” Paramount highlighted Netflixs antitrust challenges, reduced theatrical releases and conflicts with cable networks. WBD had earlier dismissed these claims, stating that the sale process with Netflix had been “robust.”<h2>Netflix sends midnight letter to subscribers'</h2>After announcing that it would purchase WBD’s studio and streaming assets, Netflix sent a “midnight letter” to its 300 million subscribers on 6 December, promising “nothing is changing today,” on subscription pricing and content libraries. It also said theatrical releases would continue, but with shorter windows to transition to streaming in order to “meet audiences quicker.”<h2>Netflix is trying hard to win regulators</h2>US President Donald Trump has hinted that Netflix’s acquisition of WBD would be “a problem.” Ellison has reportedly lobbied him directly. Amid this, Netflix has intensified lobbying regulators. It has reportedly hired advisers and bankers familiar with Skydance’s own acquisition strategies.<h2>What is the future for Warner?</h2>WBD acknowledged the Paramount tender, but has not moved away from Netflix’s agreement. WBD has committed to a formal review of Paramount’s offer, which will remain open until 8 January. Labour unions and lawmakers have raised alarm about likely job losses and subscriber price hikes under Netflix. European regulators are also preparing reviews of the merger if it happens. Shareholder rejection, potential lawsuits, regulatory blocks or even no sale at all are possible.

WBD is now at the centre of a high-stakes contest between Netflix and Paramount, backed by Oracle founder Larry Ellison, days after what appeared to be a near-certain announcement

Paramount Skydance on Monday (Dec 8) made a hostile 108.4-billion-dollar all-cash offer for the whole of the Warner Bros Discovery empire, in a tender that bypassed the WBD board and went directly to shareholders, just days after Netflix announced the acquisition of the film and television studios and streaming assets of the entertainment conglomerate. With the Paramount bid, WBD is now at the centre of a high-stakes contest between Netflix and Paramount, backed by Oracle founder Larry Ellison, days after what appeared to be a near-certain announcement from the streaming giant that it would acquire the prized studio and streaming operations of WBD. Paramount Skydance makes a 30-dollar-per-share proposal Paramount’s proposal has 54 billion dollars in committed debt from major banks, along with equity from RedBird Capital and Ellison-aligned investors, reports said. Paramount argues its offer provides 18 billion dollars more in cash than Netflix’s. It claims that its bid will face less regulatory scrutiny. It noted that Netflix’s US market share, if it merges with WBD’s streaming assets, would exceed 50 per cent and draw antitrust concerns from the Department of Justice. WBD has been looking for suitors Amid falling cable revenues, WBD CEO David Zaslav has been looking to pare losses. Formal bids for WBD emerged in late November, with Netflix aggressively seeking WBD’s studios and streaming assets, including HBO Max, in a deal valued at 72 billion dollars in equity, at 27.75 dollars per share. How is Paramount’s bid different? Paramount seeks to acquire the entire company — Warner Bros studios, HBO Max, CNN, Discovery networks and cable channels. Besides Ellison, Paramount is backed by Middle Eastern financing, and has been positioning itself as the only “full-service” buyer. What is happening with the Netflix–WBD negotiations? The WBD board on 4 December granted Netflix exclusive negotiating rights and accepted a 5-billion-dollar breakup fee. Paramount accused WBD of a “rigged” process and failure to honour fiduciary duties, saying in a letter that Netflix’s bid carried “substantial risks.” Paramount highlighted Netflixs antitrust challenges, reduced theatrical releases and conflicts with cable networks. WBD had earlier dismissed these claims, stating that the sale process with Netflix had been “robust.” Netflix sends midnight letter to subscribers' After announcing that it would purchase WBD’s studio and streaming assets, Netflix sent a “midnight letter” to its 300 million subscribers on 6 December, promising “nothing is changing today,” on subscription pricing and content libraries. It also said theatrical releases would continue, but with shorter windows to transition to streaming in order to “meet audiences quicker.” Netflix is trying hard to win regulators US President Donald Trump has hinted that Netflix’s acquisition of WBD would be “a problem.” Ellison has reportedly lobbied him directly. Amid this, Netflix has intensified lobbying regulators. It has reportedly hired advisers and bankers familiar with Skydance’s own acquisition strategies. What is the future for Warner? WBD acknowledged the Paramount tender, but has not moved away from Netflix’s agreement. WBD has committed to a formal review of Paramount’s offer, which will remain open until 8 January. Labour unions and lawmakers have raised alarm about likely job losses and subscriber price hikes under Netflix. European regulators are also preparing reviews of the merger if it happens. Shareholder rejection, potential lawsuits, regulatory blocks or even no sale at all are possible.

WBD is now at the centre of a high-stakes contest between Netflix and Paramount, backed by Oracle founder Larry Ellison, days after what appeared to be a near-certain announcement

Netflix sends 'nothing's changing' letter to subscribers as Paramount makes hostile offer for Warner Bros

IndiGo Airlines, operated by InterGlobe Aviation Limited, is in the news for all the wrong reasons, having gamed the rostering system until the government intervened, and responding to the crackdown with sudden cancellations that left thousands of passengers stranded. The carrier's journey began in 2005 at the right place and the right time, as India’s low-cost aviation boom was taking off. Here is its story.<h2>The early days of IndiGo</h2>IndiGo was founded by Rahul Bhatia of InterGlobe Enterprises and Rakesh Gangwal, an Indian-American aviation veteran and former CEO of US Airways. Before the launch of the airline, Bhatia had built InterGlobe Enterprises’ travel and aviation business portfolio. IndiGo is short for “India on the Go,” with a mission to provide affordable, accessible air travel.Even before it started operations, the airline made a bold move in June 2005, ordering 100 Airbus A320-200 aircraft worth 6 billion dollars at the Paris Air Show, the largest such order by any Indian airline at the time. As demand in India’s aviation market grew, this order ensured fleet availability at deep bulk discounts and positioned IndiGo as a low-cost carrier.The airline’s first commercial flight took off on 4 August 2006 from Delhi to Imphal via Guwahati, using a leased Airbus A320. By the end of 2006, IndiGo operated six aircraft, flying routes connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata. For passengers accustomed to delays at state-run Air India, IndiGo quickly won loyalty with punctual operations, often called “IndiGo Standard Time,” and a minimal-frills model.<h2>An opportune moment to grow as rivals crumbled</h2>Between 2008 and 2012, the Indian private aviation sector experienced both growth and turbulence. Headwinds included the 2007–08 global financial crisis and rising fuel prices, which accounted for up to 45 per cent of operating costs. Carriers such as Kingfisher Airlines and Air Sahara suffered heavy losses, while Air India struggled under chronic debt. IndiGo succeeded by operating a single aircraft model, maintaining lean operations, managing rapid turnaround times, and using sale-and-leaseback agreements for aircraft. While competitors struggled, IndiGo added nine aircraft in 2007, and by 2010 it overtook Air India to become India’s third-largest carrier, behind Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines, with a domestic market share of 17.3 per cent.In 2012, Kingfisher Airlines collapsed after its promoter, Vijay Mallya, failed to pay salaries and service billions of rupees in debt to a banking consortia. Mallya fled India for UK, leaving the airline's operations grounded. With fewer choices, passengers flocked to IndiGo.&nbsp;Between 2008 and 2012, the airline’s market share rose from around 6 per cent to about 27 per cent. It also became known for its ancillary practices, such as food priced at 200–300 per cent markups and fines for excess baggage.&nbsp;Six years after its first flight, IndiGo became India’s largest airline. It also began international operations, starting with Dubai, and placed a new order for 180 Airbus A320-family aircraft valued at around 15 billion dollars, the world’s largest commercial aircraft order at the time.<h2>Expansion and going public</h2>Virtually unrivalled as other airlines collapsed or shrank operations, IndiGo tightened its grip on the domestic market between 2013 and 2019. SpiceJet faced financial stress, GoAir (later rebranded GoFirst) suffered engine-related groundings, and Jet Airways ceased operations in 2019 under debts exceeding 20,000 crore rupees. IndiGo expanded aggressively, adding routes in both primary and secondary cities, supported by the Indian government’s regional connectivity programme, UDAN.By 2015, IndiGo commanded a domestic market share of 36.5 per cent. That same year, it went public, raising 3,000 crore rupees in its IPO. The fleet reached 100 aircraft. Armed with public market funds, IndiGo placed an order for 250 Airbus A320neo planes for 26.5 billion dollars, the largest single order ever with Airbus at that time. By 2019, the airline operated 1,500 daily flights, flying over 100 million passengers annually with a fleet exceeding 250 aircraft.<h2>Ancillary charges become main cash cow</h2>During this period, IndiGo’s revenue increasingly depended on ancillary charges. The airline monetised seat selection, excess baggage fines, priority boarding, and in-flight meals under rules permitting service unbundling. Excess baggage fees rose from 400 rupees per kilogramme to 600 rupees, while sandwiches cost around 150 rupees in 2018 and nearly 300 rupees by 2025. These charges accounted for up to 15 per cent of revenue, while base fares remained low on paper.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indigo-crisis-indigo-expects-flight-operations-to-stabilise-by-december-10-1765165776876/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/indigo-crisis-indigo-expects-flight-operations-to-stabilise-by-december-10-1765165776876/embed</a><h2>Surviving the pandemic turmoil with mega orders</h2>The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 grounded roughly 90 per cent of flights. Despite losses, IndiGo expanded its net fleet by 45 aircraft, surpassing 262 in service, and carried approximately 75 million passengers amid restrictions. At the same time, the airline invested in new-generation engines to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Competitors suffered more acutely: GoFirst, burdened with 6,500 crore rupees in debt, filed for bankruptcy in 2023, and SpiceJet continued to struggle with financial and operational stress. IndiGo absorbed many routes and airport slots vacated by rivals.In 2022, IndiGo became the first Indian airline to carry over 100 million passengers annually. In 2023, it made commercial aviation history with an order for 500 Airbus A320neo-family aircraft valued at 55 billion dollars, the largest purchase ever in the sector.<h2>Taking wings as time flies: Global ambitions and regional footprint</h2>By early 2023, IndiGo’s fleet exceeded 300 aircraft. For the first time, it operated a Boeing aircraft, wet-leasing a 777-300ER to meet international demand. In 2024, it ordered 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, expanding its long-haul capability. By its 20th anniversary, the airline had a fleet of 434 aircraft, a domestic market share of 64.2 per cent, and operated approximately 2,700 daily flights to 137 destinations, including 94 domestic and 43 international. Regional connectivity was strengthened using ATR 72-600 aircraft for smaller cities such as Hubli and Gorakhpur.In the first quarter of 2025, IndiGo earned nearly 17.6 billion rupees from ancillary services, representing 14 per cent growth year-on-year. Pricing for baggage, meals, and other add-ons helped offset volatile fuel costs.<h2>One dominant airline for 430 million passengers</h2>IndiGo benefited from the near-collapse of India’s private aviation sector, with at least nine major carriers failing since the early 1990s. The end of Kingfisher Airlines in 2012 and Jet Airways in 2019 redirected up to 30 per cent of their traffic to IndiGo. Ongoing troubles at GoFirst and SpiceJet from 2023 further strengthened its market position.IndiGo’s revenues rose from roughly 11,200 crore rupees in fiscal year 2015 to about 83,314 crore rupees in 2025. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, total income reached 20,250 crore rupees, with ticket revenue of 16,500 crore rupees and ancillary revenue of 1,760 crore rupees, recording a net profit of 5,062 crore rupees.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/fresh-chaos-alert-delhi-airport-warns-indigo-delays-may-continue-urges-flyers-to-check-flight-status-1765163526025">Fresh chaos alert: Delhi Airport warns Indigo delays may continue, urges flyers to check flight status</a><h2>Who are the shareholders of IndiGo?</h2>Promoters own 41.6 per cent of the company. InterGlobe Enterprises, led by Rahul Bhatia, holds roughly 35.7 per cent, remaining the dominant promoter entity. The Gangwal family, through personal holdings and a family trust, holds about 13.5 per cent. Foreign institutional investors account for approximately 52.5 per cent, domestic institutional investors 17.2 per cent, retail investors nearly 4 per cent, with the remainder held by corporate and trust entities.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-nothing-happened-overnight-indigo-employee-s-open-letter-makes-big-revelations-1765186606777">'Nothing happened overnight': IndiGo employee's open letter makes big revelations</a><h2>How the IndiGo flight chaos of December exposed a civil aviation crisis</h2>In December first week, operational disruptions arose after the government implemented flight duty time regulations, requiring longer rest periods for pilots and crew. IndiGo’s previously frozen hiring left it short-staffed, leading to over 1,000 flight cancellations in three days. Pilot unions blamed insufficient workforce planning, while passengers were left stranded. Regulators temporarily relaxed duty requirements to stabilise operations.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indigo-flight-crisis-not-urgent-cji-declines-immediate-hearing-on-pil-says-1765177884996">IndiGo flight crisis 'not urgent'? CJI declines immediate hearing on PIL, says...</a><h2>IndiGo: Too big to fail?</h2>The incident exposed the systemic risks of over-reliance on a single dominant carrier. IndiGo, alongside Air India, controls around 92 per cent of domestic capacity, effectively making it “too big to fail.”After the December disruption, IndiGo’s legacy is at a crossroads. Is it an airline that democratised flying for millions of Indians through disciplined operations and low fares, or one that poorly managed customer and labour relations? As it enters its third decade, IndiGo’s future remains secure, largely because no rival appears on the horizon, capable of challenging its dominance in the near term. Yet, regulators are likely to scrutinise the carrier more closely following the operational embarrassment of 2025, even as it pushes full-page ads for a safe landing from the PR disaster.

Since 2005, IndiGo Airlines has grown to dominate India’s skies in two decades, aided by low-cost operations, fleet expansion, ancillary revenue and rivals’ failures. But the December flight chaos is a wake-up call. Can Indian flyers trust one single dominant airline?

IndiGo Airlines, operated by InterGlobe Aviation Limited, is in the news for all the wrong reasons, having gamed the rostering system until the government intervened, and responding to the crackdown with sudden cancellations that left thousands of passengers stranded. The carrier's journey began in 2005 at the right place and the right time, as India’s low-cost aviation boom was taking off. Here is its story. The early days of IndiGo IndiGo was founded by Rahul Bhatia of InterGlobe Enterprises and Rakesh Gangwal, an Indian-American aviation veteran and former CEO of US Airways. Before the launch of the airline, Bhatia had built InterGlobe Enterprises’ travel and aviation business portfolio. IndiGo is short for “India on the Go,” with a mission to provide affordable, accessible air travel. Even before it started operations, the airline made a bold move in June 2005, ordering 100 Airbus A320-200 aircraft worth 6 billion dollars at the Paris Air Show, the largest such order by any Indian airline at the time. As demand in India’s aviation market grew, this order ensured fleet availability at deep bulk discounts and positioned IndiGo as a low-cost carrier. The airline’s first commercial flight took off on 4 August 2006 from Delhi to Imphal via Guwahati, using a leased Airbus A320. By the end of 2006, IndiGo operated six aircraft, flying routes connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata. For passengers accustomed to delays at state-run Air India, IndiGo quickly won loyalty with punctual operations, often called “IndiGo Standard Time,” and a minimal-frills model. An opportune moment to grow as rivals crumbled Between 2008 and 2012, the Indian private aviation sector experienced both growth and turbulence. Headwinds included the 2007–08 global financial crisis and rising fuel prices, which accounted for up to 45 per cent of operating costs. Carriers such as Kingfisher Airlines and Air Sahara suffered heavy losses, while Air India struggled under chronic debt. IndiGo succeeded by operating a single aircraft model, maintaining lean operations, managing rapid turnaround times, and using sale-and-leaseback agreements for aircraft. While competitors struggled, IndiGo added nine aircraft in 2007, and by 2010 it overtook Air India to become India’s third-largest carrier, behind Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines, with a domestic market share of 17.3 per cent. In 2012, Kingfisher Airlines collapsed after its promoter, Vijay Mallya, failed to pay salaries and service billions of rupees in debt to a banking consortia. Mallya fled India for UK, leaving the airline's operations grounded. With fewer choices, passengers flocked to IndiGo. Between 2008 and 2012, the airline’s market share rose from around 6 per cent to about 27 per cent. It also became known for its ancillary practices, such as food priced at 200–300 per cent markups and fines for excess baggage. Six years after its first flight, IndiGo became India’s largest airline. It also began international operations, starting with Dubai, and placed a new order for 180 Airbus A320-family aircraft valued at around 15 billion dollars, the world’s largest commercial aircraft order at the time. Expansion and going public Virtually unrivalled as other airlines collapsed or shrank operations, IndiGo tightened its grip on the domestic market between 2013 and 2019. SpiceJet faced financial stress, GoAir (later rebranded GoFirst) suffered engine-related groundings, and Jet Airways ceased operations in 2019 under debts exceeding 20,000 crore rupees. IndiGo expanded aggressively, adding routes in both primary and secondary cities, supported by the Indian government’s regional connectivity programme, UDAN. By 2015, IndiGo commanded a domestic market share of 36.5 per cent. That same year, it went public, raising 3,000 crore rupees in its IPO. The fleet reached 100 aircraft. Armed with public market funds, IndiGo placed an order for 250 Airbus A320neo planes for 26.5 billion dollars, the largest single order ever with Airbus at that time. By 2019, the airline operated 1,500 daily flights, flying over 100 million passengers annually with a fleet exceeding 250 aircraft. Ancillary charges become main cash cow During this period, IndiGo’s revenue increasingly depended on ancillary charges. The airline monetised seat selection, excess baggage fines, priority boarding, and in-flight meals under rules permitting service unbundling. Excess baggage fees rose from 400 rupees per kilogramme to 600 rupees, while sandwiches cost around 150 rupees in 2018 and nearly 300 rupees by 2025. These charges accounted for up to 15 per cent of revenue, while base fares remained low on paper. https://www.wionews.com/videos/indigo-crisis-indigo-expects-flight-operations-to-stabilise-by-december-10-1765165776876/embed Surviving the pandemic turmoil with mega orders The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 grounded roughly 90 per cent of flights. Despite losses, IndiGo expanded its net fleet by 45 aircraft, surpassing 262 in service, and carried approximately 75 million passengers amid restrictions. At the same time, the airline invested in new-generation engines to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Competitors suffered more acutely: GoFirst, burdened with 6,500 crore rupees in debt, filed for bankruptcy in 2023, and SpiceJet continued to struggle with financial and operational stress. IndiGo absorbed many routes and airport slots vacated by rivals. In 2022, IndiGo became the first Indian airline to carry over 100 million passengers annually. In 2023, it made commercial aviation history with an order for 500 Airbus A320neo-family aircraft valued at 55 billion dollars, the largest purchase ever in the sector. Taking wings as time flies: Global ambitions and regional footprint By early 2023, IndiGo’s fleet exceeded 300 aircraft. For the first time, it operated a Boeing aircraft, wet-leasing a 777-300ER to meet international demand. In 2024, it ordered 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, expanding its long-haul capability. By its 20th anniversary, the airline had a fleet of 434 aircraft, a domestic market share of 64.2 per cent, and operated approximately 2,700 daily flights to 137 destinations, including 94 domestic and 43 international. Regional connectivity was strengthened using ATR 72-600 aircraft for smaller cities such as Hubli and Gorakhpur. In the first quarter of 2025, IndiGo earned nearly 17.6 billion rupees from ancillary services, representing 14 per cent growth year-on-year. Pricing for baggage, meals, and other add-ons helped offset volatile fuel costs. One dominant airline for 430 million passengers IndiGo benefited from the near-collapse of India’s private aviation sector, with at least nine major carriers failing since the early 1990s. The end of Kingfisher Airlines in 2012 and Jet Airways in 2019 redirected up to 30 per cent of their traffic to IndiGo. Ongoing troubles at GoFirst and SpiceJet from 2023 further strengthened its market position. IndiGo’s revenues rose from roughly 11,200 crore rupees in fiscal year 2015 to about 83,314 crore rupees in 2025. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, total income reached 20,250 crore rupees, with ticket revenue of 16,500 crore rupees and ancillary revenue of 1,760 crore rupees, recording a net profit of 5,062 crore rupees. Also read: Fresh chaos alert: Delhi Airport warns Indigo delays may continue, urges flyers to check flight status Who are the shareholders of IndiGo? Promoters own 41.6 per cent of the company. InterGlobe Enterprises, led by Rahul Bhatia, holds roughly 35.7 per cent, remaining the dominant promoter entity. The Gangwal family, through personal holdings and a family trust, holds about 13.5 per cent. Foreign institutional investors account for approximately 52.5 per cent, domestic institutional investors 17.2 per cent, retail investors nearly 4 per cent, with the remainder held by corporate and trust entities. Also read: 'Nothing happened overnight': IndiGo employee's open letter makes big revelations How the IndiGo flight chaos of December exposed a civil aviation crisis In December first week, operational disruptions arose after the government implemented flight duty time regulations, requiring longer rest periods for pilots and crew. IndiGo’s previously frozen hiring left it short-staffed, leading to over 1,000 flight cancellations in three days. Pilot unions blamed insufficient workforce planning, while passengers were left stranded. Regulators temporarily relaxed duty requirements to stabilise operations. Also read: IndiGo flight crisis 'not urgent'? CJI declines immediate hearing on PIL, says... IndiGo: Too big to fail? The incident exposed the systemic risks of over-reliance on a single dominant carrier. IndiGo, alongside Air India, controls around 92 per cent of domestic capacity, effectively making it “too big to fail.” After the December disruption, IndiGo’s legacy is at a crossroads. Is it an airline that democratised flying for millions of Indians through disciplined operations and low fares, or one that poorly managed customer and labour relations? As it enters its third decade, IndiGo’s future remains secure, largely because no rival appears on the horizon, capable of challenging its dominance in the near term. Yet, regulators are likely to scrutinise the carrier more closely following the operational embarrassment of 2025, even as it pushes full-page ads for a safe landing from the PR disaster.

Since 2005, IndiGo Airlines has grown to dominate India’s skies in two decades, aided by low-cost operations, fleet expansion, ancillary revenue and rivals’ failures. But the December flight chaos is a wake-up call. Can Indian flyers trust one single dominant airline?

The IndiGo story: 1.4 billion Indians, 430 million flyers, one dominant airline. Will it be IndiGone soon?

The European Union and India are set to engage in crucial trade talks, with negotiating teams from both sides convening to discuss the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), an official confirmed to ANI.&nbsp;The two-day negotiation session will commence on Monday (Dec 08) and continue through Tuesday, marking another step forward in the long-standing effort to establish stronger economic ties between the EU and India.&nbsp;In parallel, India and the United States are also scheduled to hold trade talks in New Delhi starting December 10, a government official said on Saturday. The discussions aim to strengthen bilateral trade ties and advance negotiations on the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) between the two countries.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-and-us-to-begin-3-day-trade-talks-in-new-delhi-from-10-december-1765035128550">India, US to begin 3-day trade talks in New Delhi from 10 December</a>&nbsp;The back-to-back trade negotiations underscore India's growing strategic importance in global commerce as major economic powers seek to deepen trade ties. The talks come at a time when countries worldwide are recalibrating their trade partnerships and supply chains. The EU-US negotiations could significantly enhance bilateral trade flows with India. India-EU FTA talks were relaunched in 2022. EU Ambassador to India Herve Delphin, speaking at India's World Annual Conclave 2025 on Thursday, said the current negotiations represent a fundamentally new phase, calling them "EU-India FTA negotiation 2.0". "I mean, first, I would say it's not the same FTA negotiation as a decade ago. It's not a continuum. So please don't read this FTA negotiation through the lens of the past," Delphin said. He said there is now "a growing sense of shared necessity and complementarity articulated by the EU and Indian leaders during the visit of the European Commission earlier this year." Delphin added that global trade tensions have increased the urgency of a predictable, rules-based framework. "Of course, there is a sharpest sense of saliency because of the tariff wars that are going on, the tariff offensive that we see. So I think it's, this is an FTA when there is more than trade," the envoy said, addressing a panel discussion. Pointing to the combined economic weight of both partners, he said, "If you think that the EU and India combined is 25 per cent of the world GDP, 25 per cent of world demography, that's nothing. So if you create an FTA between these two entities, that has a bearing. That has a bearing."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spacex-to-offer-insider-shares-elon-musk-clarifies-amid-market-buzz-over-800b-valuation-1765090614016">SpaceX to offer insider shares? Elon Musk clarifies amid market buzz over $800B valuation</a>&nbsp;He noted the agreement would help both sides "de-risking this very fraught environment of the world economy," and emphasised that the EU's FTA record shows consistent gains for all parties. "It is a long-term benefit because the history of European FTAs with any partner, and you can check that with any partner, is a win-win. It's been mutually beneficial. Trade has grown. Jobs have grown. Investments have grown. So we are not in a zero-sum game. So call it the European art of the deal or whatever," Delphin said. Delphin said there is "a strong political commitment to conclude the FTA negotiations by the end of the year." He noted that both sides have agreed to drop the traditional approach of formal negotiation rounds. "Now we are in a continuous negotiating mode," he said. "As of tomorrow, you will have a 40 or so strong team of European negotiators coming to Delhi," he said. India and the United States are scheduled to hold trade talks in New Delhi starting December 10, government sources said on Saturday. The discussions aim to take forward negotiations on the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) between the two countries. On November 28, the chief negotiator of the deal from India, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal, had said that India is hopeful of signing the first tranche of the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement within the current calendar year. Addressing the FICCI Annual General Meeting, he indicated that talks have progressed substantially despite recent shifts in global trade conditions. Reflecting on the negotiations done so far, the Secretary said, "I think our expectations....we are very optimistic and very hopeful that we should find a solution within this calendar year." India and the US initially aimed to complete the first tranche of the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by the fall of 2025, but new developments in the US trade policy landscape, including tariffs, delayed that goal.

The two-day negotiation session will commence on Monday and continue through Tuesday, marking another step forward in the long-standing effort to establish stronger economic ties between the EU and India.

The European Union and India are set to engage in crucial trade talks, with negotiating teams from both sides convening to discuss the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), an official confirmed to ANI. The two-day negotiation session will commence on Monday (Dec 08) and continue through Tuesday, marking another step forward in the long-standing effort to establish stronger economic ties between the EU and India. In parallel, India and the United States are also scheduled to hold trade talks in New Delhi starting December 10, a government official said on Saturday. The discussions aim to strengthen bilateral trade ties and advance negotiations on the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) between the two countries. Also Read: India, US to begin 3-day trade talks in New Delhi from 10 December The back-to-back trade negotiations underscore India's growing strategic importance in global commerce as major economic powers seek to deepen trade ties. The talks come at a time when countries worldwide are recalibrating their trade partnerships and supply chains. The EU-US negotiations could significantly enhance bilateral trade flows with India. India-EU FTA talks were relaunched in 2022. EU Ambassador to India Herve Delphin, speaking at India's World Annual Conclave 2025 on Thursday, said the current negotiations represent a fundamentally new phase, calling them "EU-India FTA negotiation 2.0". "I mean, first, I would say it's not the same FTA negotiation as a decade ago. It's not a continuum. So please don't read this FTA negotiation through the lens of the past," Delphin said. He said there is now "a growing sense of shared necessity and complementarity articulated by the EU and Indian leaders during the visit of the European Commission earlier this year." Delphin added that global trade tensions have increased the urgency of a predictable, rules-based framework. "Of course, there is a sharpest sense of saliency because of the tariff wars that are going on, the tariff offensive that we see. So I think it's, this is an FTA when there is more than trade," the envoy said, addressing a panel discussion. Pointing to the combined economic weight of both partners, he said, "If you think that the EU and India combined is 25 per cent of the world GDP, 25 per cent of world demography, that's nothing. So if you create an FTA between these two entities, that has a bearing. That has a bearing." Also Read: SpaceX to offer insider shares? Elon Musk clarifies amid market buzz over $800B valuation He noted the agreement would help both sides "de-risking this very fraught environment of the world economy," and emphasised that the EU's FTA record shows consistent gains for all parties. "It is a long-term benefit because the history of European FTAs with any partner, and you can check that with any partner, is a win-win. It's been mutually beneficial. Trade has grown. Jobs have grown. Investments have grown. So we are not in a zero-sum game. So call it the European art of the deal or whatever," Delphin said. Delphin said there is "a strong political commitment to conclude the FTA negotiations by the end of the year." He noted that both sides have agreed to drop the traditional approach of formal negotiation rounds. "Now we are in a continuous negotiating mode," he said. "As of tomorrow, you will have a 40 or so strong team of European negotiators coming to Delhi," he said. India and the United States are scheduled to hold trade talks in New Delhi starting December 10, government sources said on Saturday. The discussions aim to take forward negotiations on the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) between the two countries. On November 28, the chief negotiator of the deal from India, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal, had said that India is hopeful of signing the first tranche of the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement within the current calendar year. Addressing the FICCI Annual General Meeting, he indicated that talks have progressed substantially despite recent shifts in global trade conditions. Reflecting on the negotiations done so far, the Secretary said, "I think our expectations....we are very optimistic and very hopeful that we should find a solution within this calendar year." India and the US initially aimed to complete the first tranche of the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by the fall of 2025, but new developments in the US trade policy landscape, including tariffs, delayed that goal.

The two-day negotiation session will commence on Monday and continue through Tuesday, marking another step forward in the long-standing effort to establish stronger economic ties between the EU and India.

EU-India FTA negotiations to resume on Monday; US trade talks to follow

IndiGo has processed refunds amounting to ₹610 crore against cancelled or severely delayed flights and delivered 3,000 pieces of baggage to passengers across the country, the government said on Sunday. The Ministry of Civil Aviation also said that the aviation network is moving swiftly towards normalcy, and all corrective measures will remain in place until operations stabilise completely. The ministry added that no extra charges can be taken from passengers who need to reschedule flights affected by cancellations. IndiGo has also set up special support teams to help travellers with quick refunds and rebooking so that they do not face any inconvenience. The ministry added that IndiGo’s operations are improving, and its flight schedule is returning to normal.&nbsp;IndiGo, which operates about 2,300 flights a day and commands nearly 65 per cent of India’s domestic aviation market, has ramped up operations after nationwide flight disruptions for days, and operated over 1,500 flights on Saturday and around 1,650 on Sunday, restoring connectivity to 135 of its 138 destinations.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Ministry of Civil Aviation has ensured rapid stabilisation of flight operations across the country, with IndiGo services steadily returning to normal. Airfares have been regulated to prevent overcharging, refunds are being processed promptly, and baggage is being delivered on… <a href="https://t.co/mWTZRF8kKX">pic.twitter.com/mWTZRF8kKX</a>&mdash; MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) <a href="https://twitter.com/MoCA_GoI/status/1997650377123226072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-hostile-powers-sending-spies-to-west-s-universities-canada-s-former-intel-chief-1765112296395">‘Hostile’ powers sending spies to West’s universities: Canada’s former intel chief</a>&nbsp;The carrier has projected December 10 as the date for full network stabilisation.&nbsp;Dedicated support cells have been set up to ensure that refund and rebooking issues are resolved promptly and without inconvenience. IndiGo was instructed to trace and deliver all baggage separated from passengers due to cancellations or delays within 48 hours. The ministry noted that continuous communication with passengers is being maintained throughout the process to ensure smooth delivery.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-trump-deserves-nobel-for-bringing-india-and-russia-together-says-ex-pentagon-official-1765029078111">‘Trump deserves Nobel for bringing India and Russia together,’ says ex-Pentagon official</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, IndiGo’s On-Time Performance (OTP) is expected to reach 75% on Sunday, up from 30% a few days ago.Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu held another meeting with all airlines’ operators on Sunday. The minister also held meetings with stakeholders and sources said that another virtual meeting with all airline operators is reportedly on the cards.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cong-s-manish-tewari-moves-bill-to-free-mps-from-fear-of-whip-for-good-law-making-1765106892951">Cong’s Manish Tewari moves bill to free MPs from fear of ‘whip’, for good law-making</a>&nbsp;The Ministry of Civil Aviation’s 24-7 Control Room continues to function as an integrated coordination hub, overseeing flight operations, airport conditions, and passenger support requirements. Passenger calls are being promptly attended to, with necessary assistance as required, the ministry said.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu held another meeting with all airlines’ operators on Sunday. The minister also held meetings with stakeholders and sources said that another virtual meeting with all airline operators is reportedly on the cards. 

IndiGo has processed refunds amounting to ₹610 crore against cancelled or severely delayed flights and delivered 3,000 pieces of baggage to passengers across the country, the government said on Sunday. The Ministry of Civil Aviation also said that the aviation network is moving swiftly towards normalcy, and all corrective measures will remain in place until operations stabilise completely. The ministry added that no extra charges can be taken from passengers who need to reschedule flights affected by cancellations. IndiGo has also set up special support teams to help travellers with quick refunds and rebooking so that they do not face any inconvenience. The ministry added that IndiGo’s operations are improving, and its flight schedule is returning to normal. IndiGo, which operates about 2,300 flights a day and commands nearly 65 per cent of India’s domestic aviation market, has ramped up operations after nationwide flight disruptions for days, and operated over 1,500 flights on Saturday and around 1,650 on Sunday, restoring connectivity to 135 of its 138 destinations.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu held another meeting with all airlines’ operators on Sunday. The minister also held meetings with stakeholders, and sources said that another virtual meeting with all airline operators is reportedly on the cards.&nbsp;

IndiGo refunds Rs 610 crore to flyers, delivers 3,000 baggages as services recover after chaos

The Founder &amp; CEO of SpaceX, Elon Musk, refuted the reports claiming that his rocket and satellite maker SpaceX is seeking a valuation of $800 billion through a share sale. In a post on X, Musk noted that SpaceX has generated positive cash flow for many years and conducts share buybacks twice annually.&nbsp;“There has been a lot of press claiming SpaceX is raising money at $800B, which is not accurate,” Elon Musk said in a post on his social media platform X. “SpaceX has been cash flow positive for many years and does periodic stock buybacks twice a year to provide liquidity for employees and investors,” he said.&nbsp;“Valuation increments are a function of progress with Starship and Starlink and securing global direct-to-cell spectrum that greatly increases our addressable market. And one other thing that is arguably most significant by far,” he added.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">There has been a lot of press claiming <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a> is raising money at $800B, which is not accurate. SpaceX has been cash flow positive for many years and does periodic stock buybacks twice a year to provide liquidity for employees and investors. Valuation increments are a…&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1997399963509150089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Musk's response came after the news came to light following the sources hinting to Bloomberg News that SpaceX is gearing up to offer insider shares in a deal that will value the firm at almost $800 billion. The report also indicated that the sale would enable some employees and investors to liquidate part of their stake.<h3>SpaceX to Offer Insider Shares?</h3>Earlier, on December 5, a source told Bloomberg News that SpaceX is reportedly preparing a new insider shares sale in a transaction that would value Elon Musk’s rocket and satellite maker at more than OpenAI’s record-setting $500 billion valuation. Another source indicated that the proposed share price, above $400 per share, would place SpaceX’s valuation between $750 billion and $800 billion, though final terms are still subject to change.&nbsp;The board of the company discussed the tender offer on Thursday at its Starbase hub in Texas. If finalised, it would make SpaceX once again the most valuable privately held company in the world, surpassing the past record of $500 billion that ChatGPT owner OpenAI set in October.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the valuation marks a sharp jump in the company from July, when shares were priced at $212 each during a funding round that valued the company at $400 billion. As the world’s leading rocket operator, SpaceX continues to dominate the aerospace sector with its Falcon 9 missions that regularly send satellites and astronauts to orbit.

Elon Musk's response came after the news came to light that SpaceX is gearing up to offer insider shares in a deal that will value the firm at almost $800 billion. The report also indicated that the sale would enable some employees and investors to liquidate part of their stake.

The Founder & CEO of SpaceX, Elon Musk, refuted the reports claiming that his rocket and satellite maker SpaceX is seeking a valuation of $800 billion through a share sale. In a post on X, Musk noted that SpaceX has generated positive cash flow for many years and conducts share buybacks twice annually. “There has been a lot of press claiming SpaceX is raising money at $800B, which is not accurate,” Elon Musk said in a post on his social media platform X. “SpaceX has been cash flow positive for many years and does periodic stock buybacks twice a year to provide liquidity for employees and investors,” he said. “Valuation increments are a function of progress with Starship and Starlink and securing global direct-to-cell spectrum that greatly increases our addressable market. And one other thing that is arguably most significant by far,” he added.

Elon Musk's response came after the news came to light that SpaceX is gearing up to offer insider shares in a deal that will value the firm at almost $800 billion. The report also indicated that the sale would enable some employees and investors to liquidate part of their stake.

SpaceX to offer insider shares? Elon Musk clarifies amid market buzz over $800B valuation

India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo’s Chief Executive Officer Pieter Elbers, holding him accountable for the massive operational crisis and flight disruptions that left thousands of passengers stranded across the country and forced the airline to cancel nearly a thousand flights in a day. The notice is one of the most severe interventions by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that comes after mounting public anger over what officials described as “massive disruptions resulting in severe inconvenience, hardship and distress to passengers.”&nbsp;The DGCA said that the primary trigger for the aviation crisis was IndiGo’s failure to make “adequate arrangements” for the rollout of revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) for pilots, a change that had been notified months in advance and came into effect from November 1. IndiGo’s inability to adjust its rosters and resources in time led to widespread cancellations, delays, crew shortages and cascading disruption across its 138-destination network, the DGCA said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issues a show-cause notice to IndiGo <a href="https://t.co/MI4g1c7Vrf">pic.twitter.com/MI4g1c7Vrf</a>&mdash; IANS (@ians_india) <a href="https://twitter.com/ians_india/status/1997351705365610629?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/three-children-among-11-killed-by-gunmen-in-mass-shooting-at-hostel-in-south-africa-1765033868421">Three children among 11 killed by gunmen in mass shooting at hostel in South Africa</a> “It has been observed that scheduled flights of M/s Indigo Airlines have recently faced massive disruptions resulting in severe inconvenience, hardship and distress to passengers,” the notice read. “It has also been noticed that the primary cause of said flight disruptions is non-provisioning of adequate arrangements to cater to the revised requirements for smooth implementation of the approved FDTL scheme for the airline,” it added. The notice accuses IndiGo of failing to plan for revised duty and rest requirements for cockpit crew, non-compliance with Rule 42A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, violations of multiple Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) governing duty periods and failing to provide information, assistance, or facilities mandated for passengers during cancellations and delays. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-trump-deserves-nobel-for-bringing-india-and-russia-together-says-ex-pentagon-official-1765029078111">‘Trump deserves Nobel for bringing India and Russia together,’ says ex-Pentagon official</a> “As the CEO, you are responsible for ensuring effective management of the airline. You have failed in your duty to ensure timely arrangements for conduct of reliable operations and the availability of requisite facilities to passengers,” the notice said. The CEO has been directed to respond within 24 hours, failing which the regulator will “decide the matter ex parte”, potentially opening the door to penalties ranging from financial sanctions to operational restrictions.

“It has also been noticed that the primary cause of said flight disruptions is non-provisioning of adequate arrangements to cater to the revised requirements for smooth implementation of the approved FDTL scheme for the airline,” it added.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-india-a-critical-partner-says-trump-admin-in-new-national-security-strategy-document-1764955604501">‘India a critical partner,’ says Trump admin in new national security strategy document</a>&nbsp;The notice accuses IndiGo of failing to plan for revised duty and rest requirements for cockpit crew, non-compliance with Rule 42A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, violations of multiple Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) governing duty periods and failing to provide information, assistance, or facilities mandated for passengers during cancellations and delays.&nbsp;“As the CEO, you are responsible for ensuring effective management of the airline. You have failed in your duty to ensure timely arrangements for conduct of reliable operations and the availability of requisite facilities to passengers,” the notice said.&nbsp;The CEO has been directed to respond within 24 hours, failing which the regulator will “decide the matter ex parte”, potentially opening the door to penalties ranging from financial sanctions to operational restrictions.

The CEO has been directed to respond within 24 hours, failing which the regulator will “decide the matter ex parte”, potentially opening the door to penalties ranging from financial sanctions to operational restrictions.

India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo’s Chief Executive Officer Pieter Elbers, holding him accountable for the massive operational crisis and flight disruptions that left thousands of passengers stranded across the country and forced the airline to cancel nearly a thousand flights in a day. The notice is one of the most severe interventions by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that comes after mounting public anger over what officials described as “massive disruptions resulting in severe inconvenience, hardship and distress to passengers.” The DGCA said that the primary trigger for the aviation crisis was IndiGo’s failure to make “adequate arrangements” for the rollout of revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) for pilots, a change that had been notified months in advance and came into effect from November 1. IndiGo’s inability to adjust its rosters and resources in time led to widespread cancellations, delays, crew shortages and cascading disruption across its 138-destination network, the DGCA said.

The CEO has been directed to respond within 24 hours, failing which the regulator will “decide the matter ex parte”, potentially opening the door to penalties ranging from financial sanctions to operational restrictions.

‘You failed in your duty’: Aviation regulator DGCA issues show-cause notice to IndiGo CEO over crisis

India and the United States are scheduled to hold trade talks in New Delhi starting December 10, government sources said on Saturday.&nbsp;The discussions aim to take forward negotiations on the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) between the two countries. On November 28, the chief negotiator of the deal from India, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal had said that India is hopeful of signing the first tranche of the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement within the current calendar year. Addressing the FICCI Annual General Meeting, he indicated that talks have progressed substantially despite recent shifts in global trade conditions. Reflecting on the negotiations done so far, the Secretary said, "I think our expectations....we are very optimistic and very hopeful that we should find a solution within this calendar year." India and the US were initially aiming to complete the first tranche of an India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by fall of 2025, but there were new developments in the US trade policy landscape, including tariffs.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indigo-dgca-fdtl-crisis-shows-how-indian-civil-aviation-passengers-are-on-a-wing-and-a-prayer-and-it-s-not-a-single-airline-s-problem-1764922014882">IndiGo flight chaos shows Indian passengers are on a wing and a prayer. And it's not a single airline's problem</a>&nbsp; US President Donald Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods starting August 1, followed by another 25 per cent increase days later, citing India's continued purchase of Russian oil. The US had imposed reciprocal tariffs on several countries with whom it faces trade deficits. There have been several rounds of talks to finalise the BTA with the United States. The BTA, formally proposed in February following directives from the leadership of both nations, seeks to more than double bilateral trade, from the current USD 191 billion to USD 500 billion by 2030. Talks were first announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington earlier this year. India has signed 14 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and six Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) with its trading partners to give a boost to India's exports. India is negotiating FTAs with several countries and is also in talks with the EU. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during their talks yesterday in New Delhi, appreciated the ongoing intensification of the joint work on a Free Trade Agreement on goods between India and the Eurasian Economic Union covering sectors of mutual interest. They gave directions to intensify efforts in negotiations on a mutually beneficial agreement on the promotion and protection of investments.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-launches-massive-drone-missile-strike-on-ukraine-as-peace-talks-between-kyiv-and-washington-continue-1765033955245">Russia launches massive drone missile strike on Ukraine as peace talks between Kyiv and Washington continue</a>&nbsp; Speaking at the HT Leadership Summit 2025, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar noted India's autonomy in maintaining its bilateral relationship with major countries. "Everybody knows that India has relations with all the major countries in the world. And for any country to expect to have a say on how we develop our relations with others is not a reasonable proposition, because remember, the other can expect the same," Jaishankar said. He reaffirmed India's "freedom of choice" and said the policy on upholding "strategic autonomy" continues.

India and the US were initially aiming to complete the first tranche of an India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by fall of 2025, but there were new developments in the US trade policy landscape, including tariffs.

India and the United States are scheduled to hold trade talks in New Delhi starting December 10, government sources said on Saturday. The discussions aim to take forward negotiations on the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) between the two countries. On November 28, the chief negotiator of the deal from India, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal had said that India is hopeful of signing the first tranche of the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement within the current calendar year. Addressing the FICCI Annual General Meeting, he indicated that talks have progressed substantially despite recent shifts in global trade conditions. Reflecting on the negotiations done so far, the Secretary said, "I think our expectations....we are very optimistic and very hopeful that we should find a solution within this calendar year." India and the US were initially aiming to complete the first tranche of an India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by fall of 2025, but there were new developments in the US trade policy landscape, including tariffs. Also Read: IndiGo flight chaos shows Indian passengers are on a wing and a prayer. And it's not a single airline's problem US President Donald Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods starting August 1, followed by another 25 per cent increase days later, citing India's continued purchase of Russian oil. The US had imposed reciprocal tariffs on several countries with whom it faces trade deficits. There have been several rounds of talks to finalise the BTA with the United States. The BTA, formally proposed in February following directives from the leadership of both nations, seeks to more than double bilateral trade, from the current USD 191 billion to USD 500 billion by 2030. Talks were first announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington earlier this year. India has signed 14 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and six Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) with its trading partners to give a boost to India's exports. India is negotiating FTAs with several countries and is also in talks with the EU. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during their talks yesterday in New Delhi, appreciated the ongoing intensification of the joint work on a Free Trade Agreement on goods between India and the Eurasian Economic Union covering sectors of mutual interest. They gave directions to intensify efforts in negotiations on a mutually beneficial agreement on the promotion and protection of investments. Also Read: Russia launches massive drone missile strike on Ukraine as peace talks between Kyiv and Washington continue Speaking at the HT Leadership Summit 2025, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar noted India's autonomy in maintaining its bilateral relationship with major countries. "Everybody knows that India has relations with all the major countries in the world. And for any country to expect to have a say on how we develop our relations with others is not a reasonable proposition, because remember, the other can expect the same," Jaishankar said. He reaffirmed India's "freedom of choice" and said the policy on upholding "strategic autonomy" continues.

India and the US were initially aiming to complete the first tranche of an India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by the fall of 2025, but there were new developments in the US trade policy landscape, including tariffs.

India, US to begin 3-day trade talks in New Delhi from 10 December

The deal includes Warner Bros Discovery's streaming and premium-TV business, giving Netflix full ownership of HBO, one of the strongest content brands in the world, known for Game of Thrones, Succession, The Last of Us and more.

The deal includes Warner Bros Discovery's streaming and premium-TV business, giving Netflix full ownership of HBO, one of the strongest content brands in the world, known for Game of Thrones, Succession, The Last of Us and more.

‘HBO, DC, Cartoon Network’: 10 companies that Netflix will now own after the Warner Bros buyout

India's civil aviation regulator on Friday (Dec 5) partially withdrew the strict implementation of pilot duty timing rules, moments after the biggest private carrier IndiGo suspended the day's flights out of Delhi and requested more time to implement the new norms. But as a common airline passenger, I knew something was amiss when IndiGo and other airlines started turning long-haul flights into two or three plane changes with stopovers. It became almost impossible to book straight flights for long journeys at what used to be ‘low-cost’ fares. The choice was to either shell out more money or change flights and suffer four or more hours of layovers for three-hour direct flying times. With practically only two or three airlines operating virtually all sectors of India, chaos was bound to happen. The method of continuous operations — sector-hopping — was possible only because airline crews and pilots were forced to work extra hours. But IndiGo chaos is only the tip of the iceberg. There are deeper issues. &nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-civil-aviation-agency-dgca-withdraws-weekly-rest-instructions-to-airlines-after-massive-disruptions-across-nation-1764921338252">Indian civil aviation agency DGCA withdraws weekly rest instructions to airlines after massive disruptions across nation</a><h2>What is ailing Indian civil aviation?</h2>The Air India accident earlier this year served as a literal wake-up call about the extent of pilot fatigue and sleep deprivation. After court orders, the regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), &nbsp;cracked down through stricter Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL). This upended the previously unchecked exploitation of airline workers, from ground staff to pilots. Work fatigue is real, and many airline employees are either quitting or lining up for interviews with foreign airlines.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chaos-at-major-indian-airports-indigo-finally-gives-an-explanation-1764866098588/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/chaos-at-major-indian-airports-indigo-finally-gives-an-explanation-1764866098588/embed</a><h2>Passenger numbers grow, but airline numbers go down</h2>As aspirational classes grow, more Indians are flying instead of taking trains — from migrant workers to middle-class families to honeymooners, for work, leisure or business. Domestic air travel reached 161.3 million passengers in 2024. In sharp contrast is the fall in the number of airlines operating: since the low-cost boom of the early 2000s, many airlines have shut down, merged or exited. Deccan Air, Kingfisher Airlines, Jet Airways, Vistara, Indian Airlines and AirAsia India are no longer operating as independent full-service carriers. Only a handful remain, and Akasa Air, SpiceJet and Go First operate only in limited sectors.&nbsp;<h2>Airports are stretched thin, under renovation, while more are expected</h2>Despite surging demand that could possibly support more airlines to operate profitably, an artificial scarcity appears to have been created by the above factors. Airport conditions add to the strain. Some military airstrips, such as Hindon Airport, have recently been opened to civil aviation to ease congestion. The proposed Noida International Airport — originally scheduled for a December 2024 opening — is now expected to take at least another year before full operations begin. Meanwhile, major airports such as those in Delhi — including Indira Gandhi International Airport (Terminals 2 and 3) — are undergoing continuous cycles of construction and refurbishment. Yet passenger congestion shows little improvement.<h2>Poor take-offs, lucky landings: Indian flyers are on a wing and a prayer</h2>Airports in India still struggle with weather disruptions, particularly in northern states. In winter, low-visibility ‒ or “fog-delay” mechanisms — often fail despite best efforts, resulting in hundreds of routine delays or cancellations from December to February. Year 2026 appears likely to bring more chaos. Reports suggest that conditions may not stabilise before February, even for major carriers. After the Air India accident, it would not be an exaggeration to say that passengers are on a wing and a prayer, given the numerous near-misses, mid-air turbulence-related incidents, bird hits, weather-caused diversions and emergency landings involving major private airlines.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indigo-flight-cancellations-airline-requests-fdtl-exemptions-as-disruptions-leave-passengers-stranded-on-friday-1764908704130">IndiGo cancels all departures at Delhi airport on Friday, over 500 flights affected</a><h2>FDTL, a sudden slap on airlines milking both passengers and crews</h2>The 300-rupee sandwich on low-cost airlines is not new. But the exploitation, it now emerges, has affected not only passengers but airline crews too. How much they had been stretched became clear when airlines simply failed to maintain schedules after mandatory rest periods were strengthened by law.The disruption at IndiGo came after the full enforcement of revised FDTL rules from November 1. DGCA mandated strict limits on night duties and rest hours to address pilot fatigue. Caught in the bind was IndiGo, the biggest private airline, which operates about 2,300 flights a day with over 400 aircraft in its fleet. It had not hired enough replacement pilots, having long relied on maximising overnight rotations.In November alone, IndiGo cancelled 1,232 flights, 755 of them directly linked to crew unavailability under the new FDTL norms. On-time performance (OTP), which the airline once boasted as its hallmark (remember IST or Indigo Standard Time?) dropped to 67.7 per cent in November from 84.1 per cent in October. The fallout affected airports nationwide.<h2>Airport congestion worsened in past months</h2>When pilots rest, aircraft are grounded. This caused a ripple effect on practically all airlines, leading to widespread delays and cancellations, which surged to 170–200 per day. Some days saw over 300 cancellations, leaving many passengers stranded and overwhelmed airports.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indigo-flight-cancellations-fdtl-rule-delays-refund-compensation-2025-1764918319752">Indigo flight cancellations: Will you get a refund? What airlines' rules say?</a><h2>These are not the only issues: from technical snags to lack of fleet to fuel cost</h2>Airlines are also facing a double whammy of technical issues associated with the duopoly of Airbus / Boeing. In March this year, around 133 aircraft across Indian carriers, which is nearly 16 per cent of the commercial fleet, reportedly remained grounded due to engine-related supply chain delays and defects. Up to 70 planes of IndiGo were grounded as of January 2025, largely due to powder-metal contamination in engines. Replacement with wet-leased or older aircraft raised lease rental costs. Fuel efficiency was low even as fuel cost was going up, squeezing airline profit margins.Geopolitical headwinds like the wars in Ukraine and West Asia affected fuel supply, and new aircraft deliveries faced long backlogs.&nbsp;The net result is that capacity remains unable to catch up with soaring demand, creating persistent instability in Indian passenger aviation sector.So it is time to view the current chaos not as just an IndiGo crisis, but as a symptom of deeper, systemic failure. Stakeholders — the government, private carriers and worker unions — must put their heads together and act before the next major disaster.

IndiGo crisis made one thing clear: India’s civil aviation sector is facing chaos. Passenger demand has collided with pilot shortages.  FDTL rules have hit a sector already reeling under grounded aircraft and airport congestion. This is a systemic crisis.

India's civil aviation regulator on Friday (Dec 5) partially withdrew the strict implementation of pilot duty timing rules, moments after the biggest private carrier IndiGo suspended the day's flights out of Delhi and requested more time to implement the new norms. But as a common airline passenger, I knew something was amiss when IndiGo and other airlines started turning long-haul flights into two or three plane changes with stopovers. It became almost impossible to book straight flights for long journeys at what used to be ‘low-cost’ fares. The choice was to either shell out more money or change flights and suffer four or more hours of layovers for three-hour direct flying times. With practically only two or three airlines operating virtually all sectors of India, chaos was bound to happen. The method of continuous operations — sector-hopping — was possible only because airline crews and pilots were forced to work extra hours. But IndiGo chaos is only the tip of the iceberg. There are deeper issues. Also read: Indian civil aviation agency DGCA withdraws weekly rest instructions to airlines after massive disruptions across nation What is ailing Indian civil aviation? The Air India accident earlier this year served as a literal wake-up call about the extent of pilot fatigue and sleep deprivation. After court orders, the regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), cracked down through stricter Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL). This upended the previously unchecked exploitation of airline workers, from ground staff to pilots. Work fatigue is real, and many airline employees are either quitting or lining up for interviews with foreign airlines. https://www.wionews.com/videos/chaos-at-major-indian-airports-indigo-finally-gives-an-explanation-1764866098588/embed Passenger numbers grow, but airline numbers go down As aspirational classes grow, more Indians are flying instead of taking trains — from migrant workers to middle-class families to honeymooners, for work, leisure or business. Domestic air travel reached 161.3 million passengers in 2024. In sharp contrast is the fall in the number of airlines operating: since the low-cost boom of the early 2000s, many airlines have shut down, merged or exited. Deccan Air, Kingfisher Airlines, Jet Airways, Vistara, Indian Airlines and AirAsia India are no longer operating as independent full-service carriers. Only a handful remain, and Akasa Air, SpiceJet and Go First operate only in limited sectors. Airports are stretched thin, under renovation, while more are expected Despite surging demand that could possibly support more airlines to operate profitably, an artificial scarcity appears to have been created by the above factors. Airport conditions add to the strain. Some military airstrips, such as Hindon Airport, have recently been opened to civil aviation to ease congestion. The proposed Noida International Airport — originally scheduled for a December 2024 opening — is now expected to take at least another year before full operations begin. Meanwhile, major airports such as those in Delhi — including Indira Gandhi International Airport (Terminals 2 and 3) — are undergoing continuous cycles of construction and refurbishment. Yet passenger congestion shows little improvement. Poor take-offs, lucky landings: Indian flyers are on a wing and a prayer Airports in India still struggle with weather disruptions, particularly in northern states. In winter, low-visibility ‒ or “fog-delay” mechanisms — often fail despite best efforts, resulting in hundreds of routine delays or cancellations from December to February. Year 2026 appears likely to bring more chaos. Reports suggest that conditions may not stabilise before February, even for major carriers. After the Air India accident, it would not be an exaggeration to say that passengers are on a wing and a prayer, given the numerous near-misses, mid-air turbulence-related incidents, bird hits, weather-caused diversions and emergency landings involving major private airlines. Also read: IndiGo cancels all departures at Delhi airport on Friday, over 500 flights affected FDTL, a sudden slap on airlines milking both passengers and crews The 300-rupee sandwich on low-cost airlines is not new. But the exploitation, it now emerges, has affected not only passengers but airline crews too. How much they had been stretched became clear when airlines simply failed to maintain schedules after mandatory rest periods were strengthened by law. The disruption at IndiGo came after the full enforcement of revised FDTL rules from November 1. DGCA mandated strict limits on night duties and rest hours to address pilot fatigue. Caught in the bind was IndiGo, the biggest private airline, which operates about 2,300 flights a day with over 400 aircraft in its fleet. It had not hired enough replacement pilots, having long relied on maximising overnight rotations. In November alone, IndiGo cancelled 1,232 flights, 755 of them directly linked to crew unavailability under the new FDTL norms. On-time performance (OTP), which the airline once boasted as its hallmark (remember IST or Indigo Standard Time?) dropped to 67.7 per cent in November from 84.1 per cent in October. The fallout affected airports nationwide. Airport congestion worsened in past months When pilots rest, aircraft are grounded. This caused a ripple effect on practically all airlines, leading to widespread delays and cancellations, which surged to 170–200 per day. Some days saw over 300 cancellations, leaving many passengers stranded and overwhelmed airports. Also read: Indigo flight cancellations: Will you get a refund? What airlines' rules say? These are not the only issues: from technical snags to lack of fleet to fuel cost Airlines are also facing a double whammy of technical issues associated with the duopoly of Airbus / Boeing. In March this year, around 133 aircraft across Indian carriers, which is nearly 16 per cent of the commercial fleet, reportedly remained grounded due to engine-related supply chain delays and defects. Up to 70 planes of IndiGo were grounded as of January 2025, largely due to powder-metal contamination in engines. Replacement with wet-leased or older aircraft raised lease rental costs. Fuel efficiency was low even as fuel cost was going up, squeezing airline profit margins. Geopolitical headwinds like the wars in Ukraine and West Asia affected fuel supply, and new aircraft deliveries faced long backlogs. The net result is that capacity remains unable to catch up with soaring demand, creating persistent instability in Indian passenger aviation sector. So it is time to view the current chaos not as just an IndiGo crisis, but as a symptom of deeper, systemic failure. Stakeholders — the government, private carriers and worker unions — must put their heads together and act before the next major disaster.

IndiGo crisis made one thing clear: India’s civil aviation sector is facing chaos. Passenger demand has collided with pilot shortages. &nbsp;FDTL rules have hit a sector already reeling under grounded aircraft and airport congestion. This is a systemic crisis. Here is why:

IndiGo flight chaos shows Indian passengers are on a wing and a prayer. And it's not a single airline's problem

In the past 72 hours, four senior Apple executives departed, including the head of its Artificial Intelligence division, marking one of the highest-density waves of top-level turnover in the tech giant's modern history. The exits also span design, legal, and environmental policy. Apple is describing the changes as part of planned transitions, but the short burst of departures from strategically crucial roles has raised questions about what is happening inside Apple Park in Cupertino, California. Other major exits this year include that of longtime Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams in July, as well as Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri earlier in 2025.<h2>Who is out, who is in at Apple?</h2>John Giannandrea, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Machine Learning and AI Strategy, has stepped down after nearly eight years and will transition to an advisory role until retiring in spring 2026. Apple’s engineering director Amar Subramanya has been named Vice President of AI, reporting to software chief Craig Federighi. Alan Dye, the design chief and head of Human Interface, is leaving at year-end after more than two decades at Apple, to become Meta’s Chief Design Officer. Veteran designer Stephen Lemay will now lead User Interface design. Lisa Jackson, Apple’s Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives, is retiring in January 2026, with her teams shifting to Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan. Apple’s General Counsel, Kate Adams, will retire in late 2026. Former Meta legal chief Jennifer Newstead will succeed her and oversee both Legal and Government Affairs. Recent months have also seen Apple reassign several AI-related teams to Eddy Cue’s Services group and Sabih Khan’s Operations group, in an ongoing internal restructuring.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/apple-faces-38-billion-fine-in-global-antitrust-dispute-1764236390759/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/apple-faces-38-billion-fine-in-global-antitrust-dispute-1764236390759/embed</a><h2>Why is Apple seeing an ‘executive exodus’?</h2>From AI innovation and product lags to intensifying regulatory pressure, several factors appear to be driving the turnover. Apple’s AI strategy faced delays, from advanced Siri features to Apple Intelligence products.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/apple-iphone-17-series-launched-here-s-what-new-in-the-fresh-lineup-1757490724356">Apple iPhone 17 series launched: Here's what new in the fresh&nbsp;lineup</a>&nbsp;Talent poaching is another factor. Dye’s move to Meta comes amid aggressive competition for next-generation AR/VR and AI interface design, with Meta expanding its Reality Labs and AI Experiences groups.&nbsp;Apple is also under growing legal and regulatory pressure in both the US and Europe, ranging from EU antitrust actions to domestic privacy litigation. Newstead’s appointment, spanning both legal and government affairs, is aimed at addressing this.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/meet-amar-subramanya-indian-origin-researcher-appointed-as-apple-s-ai-head-microsoft-google-openai-siri-1764672414420">Meet Amar Subramanya: Indian-origin researcher appointed as Apple’s AI head</a><h2>Apple is trying to stabilise the ship, but more exits are likely</h2>Apple moved quickly to announce successors, replacements and reassignment of teams, to maintain operational stability. No product delays have been announced. But the renewed talk of Tim Cook preparing for retirement after more than a decade as chief executive, the leadership reshuffle points to a broader generational handover.&nbsp;It is not necessarily a crisis, but a recalibration. The company’s AI strategy, regulatory posture and post-Jony Ive design identity are all in transition. Next year will test whether these changes produce renewed momentum for the Big Tech giant.

Apple has seen four top executive exits in 72 hours. This is raising questions on its AI strategy, design shifts, and regulatory pressure, even as Tim Cook’s potential retirement in 2026 looms. What's really happening?


In the past 72 hours, four senior Apple executives departed, including the head of its Artificial Intelligence division, marking one of the highest-density waves of top-level turnover in the tech giant's modern history. The exits also span design, legal, and environmental policy. Apple is describing the changes as part of planned transitions, but the short burst of departures from strategically crucial roles has raised questions about what is happening inside Apple Park in Cupertino, California. Other major exits this year include that of longtime Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams in July, as well as Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri earlier in 2025. Who is out, who is in at Apple? John Giannandrea, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Machine Learning and AI Strategy, has stepped down after nearly eight years and will transition to an advisory role until retiring in spring 2026. Apple’s engineering director Amar Subramanya has been named Vice President of AI, reporting to software chief Craig Federighi. Alan Dye, the design chief and head of Human Interface, is leaving at year-end after more than two decades at Apple, to become Meta’s Chief Design Officer. Veteran designer Stephen Lemay will now lead User Interface design. Lisa Jackson, Apple’s Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives, is retiring in January 2026, with her teams shifting to Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan. Apple’s General Counsel, Kate Adams, will retire in late 2026. Former Meta legal chief Jennifer Newstead will succeed her and oversee both Legal and Government Affairs. Recent months have also seen Apple reassign several AI-related teams to Eddy Cue’s Services group and Sabih Khan’s Operations group, in an ongoing internal restructuring. https://www.wionews.com/videos/apple-faces-38-billion-fine-in-global-antitrust-dispute-1764236390759/embed Why is Apple seeing an ‘executive exodus’? From AI innovation and product lags to intensifying regulatory pressure, several factors appear to be driving the turnover. Apple’s AI strategy faced delays, from advanced Siri features to Apple Intelligence products. Also read: Apple iPhone 17 series launched: Here's what new in the fresh lineup Talent poaching is another factor. Dye’s move to Meta comes amid aggressive competition for next-generation AR/VR and AI interface design, with Meta expanding its Reality Labs and AI Experiences groups. Apple is also under growing legal and regulatory pressure in both the US and Europe, ranging from EU antitrust actions to domestic privacy litigation. Newstead’s appointment, spanning both legal and government affairs, is aimed at addressing this. Also read: Meet Amar Subramanya: Indian-origin researcher appointed as Apple’s AI head Apple is trying to stabilise the ship, but more exits are likely Apple moved quickly to announce successors, replacements and reassignment of teams, to maintain operational stability. No product delays have been announced. But the renewed talk of Tim Cook preparing for retirement after more than a decade as chief executive, the leadership reshuffle points to a broader generational handover. It is not necessarily a crisis, but a recalibration. The company’s AI strategy, regulatory posture and post-Jony Ive design identity are all in transition. Next year will test whether these changes produce renewed momentum for the Big Tech giant.

Apple has seen four top executive exits in 72 hours. This is raising questions on its AI strategy, design shifts, and regulatory pressure, even as Tim Cook’s potential retirement in 2026 looms. What's really happening?

Four top Apple executives exit in 72 hours amid Tim Cook retirement talk: What is happening at The Space Ship of Cupertino?

With the IndiGo flight disruptions entering the fourth day, and aggravating, the airline on Friday apologised for the inconvenience and announced that it would offer full refunds for all flights cancelled between December 5 and 15 which will be processed automatically to the original mode of payment. It will also provide a complete waiver on cancellations or rescheduling during this period.&nbsp;In a post on X, the airline also said that it has arranged thousands of hotel rooms and surface transport options along with food and snacks at airports to ease passenger inconvenience. In addition, the carrier said that it is also offering lounge access to senior citizens wherever possible.&nbsp;In the post on X, IndiGo also apologised to travellers, saying that it was deeply sorry for the flight meltdown that has triggered widespread chaos at all major airports in the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/ckhaWnbo86">pic.twitter.com/ckhaWnbo86</a>&mdash; IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiGo6E/status/1996864171590500737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/over-550-indigo-flights-cancelled-as-disruption-continues-for-third-day-airline-seeks-relief-from-new-provisions-1764872985628">Over 550 IndiGo flights cancelled as disruption continues for third day, airline seeks relief from new provisions</a>&nbsp;Friday witnessed the highest number of IndiGo flight cancellations, with over 750 flights affected, compared to 550 on Thursday and 85 on Wednesday.&nbsp;Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad were the worst-affected cities on Friday as hundreds of passengers were stranded and travel plans were in disarray. The airline cancelled all the 235 flights in the national capital.IndiGo, the largest airline in the country, usually operates around 2,300 flights a day and has a fleet of more than 400 aircraft.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-working-on-fta-moving-towards-mutual-settlements-in-national-currencies-says-putin-1764931650076">‘Working on FTA, moving towards mutual settlements in national currencies,’ says Putin</a>&nbsp;IndiGo’s operational collapse has caused its On-Time Performance (OTP), a key measure of airline punctuality, to plummet sharply.The airline’s OTP fell from 35 per cent on Tuesday to 19.7 per cent on Wednesday and plunged to 8.5 per cent on Thursday, according to the latest data from the Union Civil Aviation Ministry, marking a sharp decline for an airline that has long promoted punctuality as one of its hallmarks.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-president-putin-s-aircraft-was-world-s-most-tracked-plane-en-route-india-1764861903043">Russian President Putin’s aircraft was world’s most-tracked plane en route India</a>&nbsp;The carrier has informed the aviation watchdog, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, that there will be more flight cancellations till December 8 and from that day, there will also be a reduction in services.

Friday witnessed the highest number of IndiGo flight cancellations, with over 750 flights affected, compared to 550 on Thursday and 85 on Wednesday. Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad were the worst-affected cities on Friday as hundreds of passengers were stranded.

With the IndiGo flight disruptions entering the fourth day, and aggravating, the airline on Friday apologised for the inconvenience and announced that it would offer full refunds for all flights cancelled between December 5 and 15 which will be processed automatically to the original mode of payment. It will also provide a complete waiver on cancellations or rescheduling during this period. In a post on X, the airline also said that it has arranged thousands of hotel rooms and surface transport options along with food and snacks at airports to ease passenger inconvenience. In addition, the carrier said that it is also offering lounge access to senior citizens wherever possible. In the post on X, IndiGo also apologised to travellers, saying that it was deeply sorry for the flight meltdown that has triggered widespread chaos at all major airports in the country.

Friday witnessed the highest number of IndiGo flight cancellations, with over 750 flights affected, compared to 550 on Thursday and 85 on Wednesday. Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad were the worst-affected cities on Friday as hundreds of passengers were stranded.

IndiGo offers apology, full refunds from Dec 5-15, accommodation amid flight cancellations

On Friday (December 5), India Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russia President Vladimir Putin announced Economic Cooperation Programme aimed at boosting trade and investment between the two countries till 2030. The announcement came during the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit held at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, reflecting the strong bilateral ties that have endured various global challenges over decades.&nbsp;In his remarks, PM Modi stressed on the enduring nature of India-Russia relations, describing them as “steadfast like a pole star.” He expressed that the partnership, based on mutual respect and deep trust, has withstood the test of time and several global shifts. Modi highlighted that the new Economic Cooperation Programme will aim to diversify and balance trade, ensuring its sustainability. Additionally, he showed optimism about the India-Russia Business Forum, scheduled to follow the summit, which will serve as a platform to enhance export opportunities, co-production ventures, and innovation between the two countries.&nbsp;Modi further mentioned that both countries are actively working towards finalising a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Eurasian Economic Union, which will expand economic ties. Reflecting on the historical progression of the partnership, he recalled that 25 years ago, President Putin laid the groundwork for a strategic relationship between India and Russia. Over time, this partnership was elevated to a "special and privileged strategic" status, which has been continually nurtured by Putin.<h2>Here are the key agreements signed during the summit</h2>Several agreements were signed across various sectors, further cementing the bilateral ties between India and Russia. Key highlights include:&nbsp;<ul><li>Energy cooperation: Russia reaffirmed its commitment to providing uninterrupted fuel shipments to support India's growing economy.</li><li>Industrial partnerships: Indian firms inked a deal with Russia’s URALCHEM to set up a urea manufacturing plant in Russia.</li><li>Food safety: India’s FSSAI and Russia’s consumer protection agency formalized agreements to strengthen food safety regulations.</li><li>Healthcare cooperation: Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed to enhance collaboration in medical research and healthcare.</li><li>Maritime logistics: An MoU was signed to bolster India-Russia collaboration in port and shipping operations.</li><li>Migration and mobility: Both countries signed agreements to streamline migration and facilitate the movement of people between India and Russia.</li></ul>President Putin also highlighted joint efforts in building new international logistics routes and proposed future cooperation on small modular nuclear reactors and floating nuclear power plants.<h2>Energy and strategic partnership</h2>The energy and strategic partnership remain central to the India-Russia relationship. PM Modi emphasised that energy security plays a vital role in the partnership, especially in the fields of civil nuclear energy and critical minerals. Both leaders acknowledged the importance of these minerals in securing global supply chains and supporting the clean energy sector, high-tech manufacturing, and emerging industries.&nbsp;The two countries also expressed mutual interest in Arctic operations, with India offering training to seafarers for polar conditions, thus opening up employment opportunities and strengthening bilateral cooperation in the region. Both leaders set their sights on increasing annual bilateral trade to $100 billion and highlighted the shift towards settling trade in national currencies, marking a significant step towards deeper economic integration.<h2>Cultural and diplomatic engagements</h2>The summit was preceded by a formal reception for President Putin at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he received a tri-services guard of honour. This was followed by a visit to Rajghat, where Putin paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, further solidifying the cultural and diplomatic ties between the two countries.&nbsp;Prime Minister Modi personally welcomed President Putin at Palam Airport, with a hug, which underscored their strong personal rapport. The two leaders shared a ride to the Prime Minister's residence, where Putin was gifted a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, symbolising the cultural connection between India and Russia.&nbsp;Throughout the visit, President Putin is set to engage in various activities, including participating in the India-Russia Business Forum, launching the RT channel in India, and attending a state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu. Putin also thanked PM Modi for India’s role in mediating the ongoing Ukraine conflict, calling the discussions “informative and useful.” Both leaders reiterated their shared commitment to combating terrorism, promoting regional stability, and collaborating on environmental conservation. Additionally, Russia agreed to join India in the International Big Cat Alliance, a further extension of their environmental cooperation.

Putin India visit: All the deals India-Russia have signed. See details here

On Friday (December 5), India Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russia President Vladimir Putin announced Economic Cooperation Programme aimed at boosting trade and investment between the two countries till 2030. The announcement came during the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit held at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, reflecting the strong bilateral ties that have endured various global challenges over decades. In his remarks, PM Modi stressed on the enduring nature of India-Russia relations, describing them as “steadfast like a pole star.” He expressed that the partnership, based on mutual respect and deep trust, has withstood the test of time and several global shifts. Modi highlighted that the new Economic Cooperation Programme will aim to diversify and balance trade, ensuring its sustainability. Additionally, he showed optimism about the India-Russia Business Forum, scheduled to follow the summit, which will serve as a platform to enhance export opportunities, co-production ventures, and innovation between the two countries. Modi further mentioned that both countries are actively working towards finalising a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Eurasian Economic Union, which will expand economic ties. Reflecting on the historical progression of the partnership, he recalled that 25 years ago, President Putin laid the groundwork for a strategic relationship between India and Russia. Over time, this partnership was elevated to a "special and privileged strategic" status, which has been continually nurtured by Putin. Here are the key agreements signed during the summit Several agreements were signed across various sectors, further cementing the bilateral ties between India and Russia. Key highlights include: Energy cooperation: Russia reaffirmed its commitment to providing uninterrupted fuel shipments to support India's growing economy. Industrial partnerships: Indian firms inked a deal with Russia’s URALCHEM to set up a urea manufacturing plant in Russia. Food safety: India’s FSSAI and Russia’s consumer protection agency formalized agreements to strengthen food safety regulations. Healthcare cooperation: Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed to enhance collaboration in medical research and healthcare. Maritime logistics: An MoU was signed to bolster India-Russia collaboration in port and shipping operations. Migration and mobility: Both countries signed agreements to streamline migration and facilitate the movement of people between India and Russia. President Putin also highlighted joint efforts in building new international logistics routes and proposed future cooperation on small modular nuclear reactors and floating nuclear power plants. Energy and strategic partnership The energy and strategic partnership remain central to the India-Russia relationship. PM Modi emphasised that energy security plays a vital role in the partnership, especially in the fields of civil nuclear energy and critical minerals. Both leaders acknowledged the importance of these minerals in securing global supply chains and supporting the clean energy sector, high-tech manufacturing, and emerging industries. The two countries also expressed mutual interest in Arctic operations, with India offering training to seafarers for polar conditions, thus opening up employment opportunities and strengthening bilateral cooperation in the region. Both leaders set their sights on increasing annual bilateral trade to $100 billion and highlighted the shift towards settling trade in national currencies, marking a significant step towards deeper economic integration. Cultural and diplomatic engagements The summit was preceded by a formal reception for President Putin at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he received a tri-services guard of honour. This was followed by a visit to Rajghat, where Putin paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, further solidifying the cultural and diplomatic ties between the two countries. Prime Minister Modi personally welcomed President Putin at Palam Airport, with a hug, which underscored their strong personal rapport. The two leaders shared a ride to the Prime Minister's residence, where Putin was gifted a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, symbolising the cultural connection between India and Russia. Throughout the visit, President Putin is set to engage in various activities, including participating in the India-Russia Business Forum, launching the RT channel in India, and attending a state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu. Putin also thanked PM Modi for India’s role in mediating the ongoing Ukraine conflict, calling the discussions “informative and useful.” Both leaders reiterated their shared commitment to combating terrorism, promoting regional stability, and collaborating on environmental conservation. Additionally, Russia agreed to join India in the International Big Cat Alliance, a further extension of their environmental cooperation.

Russia President Vladimir Putin is in India for his two-day visit, where he held talks with India Prime Minister Narendra Modi, looking to strengthen trade, defence and economic sector. WION takes a look at some of the key deals that has been signed between the two countries

Putin India visit: From defence to energy to fuel supplies, here are all the deals India-Russia have signed. See details

Thousands of flyers were stranded on Thursday after over 550 IndiGo flights were cancelled as operational disruptions continued for the third day after the airline failed to make sufficient changes to accommodate new government regulations. IndiGo has told the aviation regulator that its operations will be fully restored by February 10 and has asked for relief from some provisions that limit pilot duty hours at night. The airline cancelled hundreds of flights this week. The airline, which flies around 2,300 flights daily and presents its punctuality as a hallmark, said more flights will be cancelled in the next two-three days. IndiGo is grappling with significant flight disruptions due to several factors, including cabin crew woes and technology issues.&nbsp;The Civil Aviation Ministry and the regulator DGCA met senior IndiGo officials on Thursday to look into the matter and work on a solution.&nbsp;&nbsp;A government source said IndiGo’s request for relief from the provisions had been received and was under consideration.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/president-zardari-appoints-asim-munir-as-country-s-first-chief-of-defence-forces-1764866852975">President Zardari appoints Asim Munir as country’s first chief of defence forces</a>&nbsp;There were around 118 flight cancellations at the Mumbai airport, 100 at Bangalore, 95 at Delhi, 75 at Hyderabad, 35 at Kolkata, 26 at Chennai, 16 at Pune, 11 at Goa, and more at other airports, news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;The airline has admitted that it misjudged crew requirements under the new norms and faced planning gaps, resulting in inadequate crew availability at a time when weather and congestion were also affecting operations.&nbsp;<h2>CEO blames ‘accumulation’ of several operational challenges</h2>&nbsp;Indigo CEO Pieter Elbers blamed “an accumulation of several operational challenges” for flight disruptions over the past two days. In an email to employees the CEO listed “minor technology glitches, schedule changes, adverse weather conditions, heightened congestion in the aviation ecosystem, and the implementation of the newly released Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) norms” as the reasons for disruption.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-to-hold-bidding-again-to-sell-loss-making-national-airline-pia-on-dec-23-asim-munir-s-foundation-among-bidders-1764845432571">Pakistan to hold bidding again to sell loss-making PIA on Dec 23; Asim Munir-controlled firm among bidders</a>&nbsp;“These past few days have been difficult for many of our IndiGo customers and colleagues. We serve close to 380,000 customers a day and want each of them to have a good experience. We could not live up to that promise these past days and we have publicly apologized for that,” Elbers wrote.&nbsp;<h2>‘Faced tough moments before, turned challenges into triumphs’</h2>&nbsp;“We have faced tough moments before, but we turned challenges into triumphs, proving our resilience, strength, and unity. This moment will be no different,” he added.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-president-putin-s-aircraft-was-world-s-most-tracked-plane-en-route-india-1764861903043">Russian President Putin’s aircraft was world’s most-tracked plane en route India</a>&nbsp;“Given the size, scale and complexity of our network, these disruptions grow large immediately and require interventions on multiple levels and dimensions. For that, a lot of work is being conducted right now,” he further explained.“Our immediate goal is to normalize our operations and bring punctuality back on track in the coming days, which is not an easy target. But this is the time for all of us to come together, prove our mettle once again, and showcase what IndiGo truly stands for,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-radical-islam-poses-a-grave-threat-to-the-us-and-the-entire-world-marco-rubio-1764786437365">‘Radical Islam poses grave threat to the US and entire world’: Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;Using the recent software update in Airbus planes as an example, the CEO said, “Just a few days ago, we performed remarkably well as a united team to achieve an unimaginable feat of upgrading 200 aircraft (A320s) in less than 24 hours. I am confident we all can deal with this challenge too. Together, as one team, we will overcome this challenge and emerge even stronger.”

The Civil Aviation Ministry and the regulator DGCA met senior IndiGo officials on Thursday to look into the matter and work on a solution. A government source said IndiGo’s request for relief from the provisions had been received and was under consideration.

Thousands of flyers were stranded on Thursday after over 550 IndiGo flights were cancelled as operational disruptions continued for the third day after the airline failed to make sufficient changes to accommodate new government regulations. IndiGo has told the aviation regulator that its operations will be fully restored by February 10 and has asked for relief from some provisions that limit pilot duty hours at night. The airline cancelled hundreds of flights this week. The airline, which flies around 2,300 flights daily and presents its punctuality as a hallmark, said more flights will be cancelled in the next two-three days. IndiGo is grappling with significant flight disruptions due to several factors, including cabin crew woes and technology issues. The Civil Aviation Ministry and the regulator DGCA met senior IndiGo officials on Thursday to look into the matter and work on a solution. A government source said IndiGo’s request for relief from the provisions had been received and was under consideration. Also Read: President Zardari appoints Asim Munir as country’s first chief of defence forces There were around 118 flight cancellations at the Mumbai airport, 100 at Bangalore, 95 at Delhi, 75 at Hyderabad, 35 at Kolkata, 26 at Chennai, 16 at Pune, 11 at Goa, and more at other airports, news agency PTI reported. The airline has admitted that it misjudged crew requirements under the new norms and faced planning gaps, resulting in inadequate crew availability at a time when weather and congestion were also affecting operations. CEO blames ‘accumulation’ of several operational challenges Indigo CEO Pieter Elbers blamed “an accumulation of several operational challenges” for flight disruptions over the past two days. In an email to employees the CEO listed “minor technology glitches, schedule changes, adverse weather conditions, heightened congestion in the aviation ecosystem, and the implementation of the newly released Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) norms” as the reasons for disruption. Also Read: Pakistan to hold bidding again to sell loss-making PIA on Dec 23; Asim Munir-controlled firm among bidders “These past few days have been difficult for many of our IndiGo customers and colleagues. We serve close to 380,000 customers a day and want each of them to have a good experience. We could not live up to that promise these past days and we have publicly apologized for that,” Elbers wrote. ‘Faced tough moments before, turned challenges into triumphs’ “We have faced tough moments before, but we turned challenges into triumphs, proving our resilience, strength, and unity. This moment will be no different,” he added. Also Read: Russian President Putin’s aircraft was world’s most-tracked plane en route India “Given the size, scale and complexity of our network, these disruptions grow large immediately and require interventions on multiple levels and dimensions. For that, a lot of work is being conducted right now,” he further explained. “Our immediate goal is to normalize our operations and bring punctuality back on track in the coming days, which is not an easy target. But this is the time for all of us to come together, prove our mettle once again, and showcase what IndiGo truly stands for,” he said. Also Read: ‘Radical Islam poses grave threat to the US and entire world’: Marco Rubio Using the recent software update in Airbus planes as an example, the CEO said, “Just a few days ago, we performed remarkably well as a united team to achieve an unimaginable feat of upgrading 200 aircraft (A320s) in less than 24 hours. I am confident we all can deal with this challenge too. Together, as one team, we will overcome this challenge and emerge even stronger.”

The Civil Aviation Ministry and the regulator DGCA met senior IndiGo officials on Thursday to look into the matter and work on a solution. A government source said IndiGo’s request for relief from the provisions had been received and was under consideration.

Over 550 IndiGo flights cancelled as disruption continues for third day, airline seeks relief from new provisions

Porsche owners across Russia have reported that their fancy sports car has become undrivable or ‘bricked’. Drivers in Moscow, Krasnodar and other cities have reported engine shutdown, fuel delivery blockades. Rolf, Russia's largest dealership group, has reported the largest service request spike last week. It is reported by Moscow Times that the outage affects all potential Porsche vehicles and engines, and any vehicle could potentially lock itself. "It is possible that this was done on purpose," said a Rolf executive.&nbsp;“Everything seemed perfect – wiring, battery, modules. Then I got to the VTS alarm unit. I disconnected it, reconnected it without the satellite plugs, and suddenly the car started. My friend had the same problem. Maybe there was interference. Maybe the radio waves got synchronised. We don’t know,” said a mechanic from Perm, whose Porsche would stall two seconds after starting.<h2>Why did this happen?</h2>The executives have failed to determine the exact cause of the outage. The affected vehicle uses a factory-installed satellite tracking system called PVTS or the Porsche Vehicle Tracking System. It was installed for all the models manufactured after 2013. When the connection is interrupted, the vehicle shuts itself down. &nbsp;“Preliminary assessment indicates that the issue is not related to the design of the vehicles,” said Porsche’s official representative in Russia, Porsche Rusland LLC, as quoted by Russia’s specialist automotive outlet Auto Rambler as saying.&nbsp;The German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen Group has stopped supplying to Russia since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. But its Moscow-based companies could not be sold. Russian executives claim that this is a deliberate attempt to block the engine to create disruption. Last year, British lawmakers warned that Beijing could remotely shut down Chinese-made electric vehicles as bilateral relations soured. The global centre of the German dealer has not yet commented.For now, mechanics are left to diagnose what appears to be a perfectly healthy and functioning car. They are opting for DIY hacks, like some drivers had restored function by disabling or rebooting the VTS, while others disconnected the car batteries for up to 10 hours, as reported by the Russian News Outlet The Moscow Times&nbsp;

Hundreds of Porsche cars across Russia have become undrivable after a PVTS satellite system failure triggered engine shutdowns, fuel blockades, and immobilisation.

Porsche owners across Russia have reported that their fancy sports car has become undrivable or ‘bricked’. Drivers in Moscow, Krasnodar and other cities have reported engine shutdown, fuel delivery blockades. Rolf, Russia's largest dealership group, has reported the largest service request spike last week. It is reported by Moscow Times that the outage affects all potential Porsche vehicles and engines, and any vehicle could potentially lock itself. "It is possible that this was done on purpose," said a Rolf executive. “Everything seemed perfect – wiring, battery, modules. Then I got to the VTS alarm unit. I disconnected it, reconnected it without the satellite plugs, and suddenly the car started. My friend had the same problem. Maybe there was interference. Maybe the radio waves got synchronised. We don’t know,” said a mechanic from Perm, whose Porsche would stall two seconds after starting. Why did this happen? The executives have failed to determine the exact cause of the outage. The affected vehicle uses a factory-installed satellite tracking system called PVTS or the Porsche Vehicle Tracking System. It was installed for all the models manufactured after 2013. When the connection is interrupted, the vehicle shuts itself down. “Preliminary assessment indicates that the issue is not related to the design of the vehicles,” said Porsche’s official representative in Russia, Porsche Rusland LLC, as quoted by Russia’s specialist automotive outlet Auto Rambler as saying. The German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen Group has stopped supplying to Russia since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. But its Moscow-based companies could not be sold. Russian executives claim that this is a deliberate attempt to block the engine to create disruption. Last year, British lawmakers warned that Beijing could remotely shut down Chinese-made electric vehicles as bilateral relations soured. The global centre of the German dealer has not yet commented. For now, mechanics are left to diagnose what appears to be a perfectly healthy and functioning car. They are opting for DIY hacks, like some drivers had restored function by disabling or rebooting the VTS, while others disconnected the car batteries for up to 10 hours, as reported by the Russian News Outlet The Moscow Times

Hundreds of Porsche cars across Russia have become undrivable after a PVTS satellite system failure triggered engine shutdowns, fuel blockades, and immobilisation.

Why hundreds of Porsches were mysteriously immobilised across Russia

You ask a question, or put a few keywords into Google’s search bar. You get a search result page, with the top section featuring a bunch of paragraphs collected by Google’s powerful AI-bot Gemini. The links to relevant websites are provided at the end of these paragraphs in a “blink and you will miss” clip icon. Most of your query has been answered in this section. Would you waste your time clicking to open the website link from which Google collected the answer, and read it? Most likely, no. That’s the new user experience trend, which means you will never read the website article which Google milked for the summarised answers. That’s zero-click for you, in simplest terms. It’s extremely convenient for the internet user. But it’s a nightmare for digital publishers, who often spend millions of dollars creating teams, investing in research and journalism, and building website designs and infrastructure.<h2>Zero-click traffic apocalypse: 60 per cent of search queries end without a direct click to website pages</h2>Call it Zero-click searches, zero-click results or Google Zero — it all means the same thing: search queries where the answer is complete or sufficient directly on Google’s search results page (SERP), without any need to click through to external websites. Google is going big on this, with featured snippets, knowledge panels, direct-answer boxes, ‘People Also Ask’ (PAA) results, and AI overviews.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/-milestone-quarter-sundar-pichai-reveals-google-s-bumper-earnings-amid-ai-boom-1761807089387">'Milestone quarter': Sundar Pichai reveals Google's bumper earnings amid AI boom</a><h2>Zero-Click searches are growing at mindboggling rates</h2>A 2024 study by SparkToro found that 58.5 per cent of Google searches in the US ended with zero clicks; in the European Union the rate was nearly 60 per cent. In other words, out of 1,000 Google searches in the US, only about 360–374 result in users clicking on external websites — the rest stay within Google’s first-page, top part. The global zero-click rate could be around 60 per cent in 2025, according to some reports. This could be even higher on mobile phones.By early 2025, AI Overviews — Google's synthesising of content from multiple sources into easy-to-read, conversational summaries at the top of SERPs — became increasingly common. Independent analyses indicate that when such overviews appear, click-through rates (CTR) for traditional links drop sharply: about 34 per cent fall in CTR for the top organic result when an AI-generated summary is present, in some cases.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/-could-change-ai-google-gemini-is-performing-strong-even-without-nvidia-gpus-1763599705063">‘Could change AI’: Google Gemini is performing strong even without Nvidia GPUs</a><h2>What does Zero-click mean for online publishers?</h2>Publishers who depend on organic search traffic, ad revenue and affiliate links are feeling the pain. News and informational sites have reported traffic drops, with zero-click results particularly dominating in daily news-related searches. Estimates for such zero-click results vary from around 56 per cent in mid-2024 to roughly 69 per cent by mid-2025. Websites that used to get monthly visits of 2.3 billion saw declines to roughly 1.7 billion after widespread AI-overview rollout. Organic referral traffic — once at the core of the publishing business — is down, with the worst-affected sites reporting declines of up to 80 per cent.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/google-invests-2-billion-in-ai-startup-652910/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/google-invests-2-billion-in-ai-startup-652910/embed</a><h2>Traffic apocalypse and the impending end of the “click economy”</h2>When pageviews go down, ad impressions, subscriptions, conversions and affiliate revenue also fall. Informational content like how-tos, 'what is' articles, and other evergreen content are hit hardest. This is the kind of content once optimised for SEO, and even advocated by Google.&nbsp;But even if a page ranks on top of Google search results now, there is no guarantee of traffic when the SERP itself supplies the answer.<h2>Old game of search engine optimisation is dying</h2>It is no longer enough to only rank on the first page of Google results — even first position no longer guarantees clicks. Publishers are scrambling for answers. They are trying to create content that adds unique value, such as exclusive insights, deep analysis, data-driven reporting, or long-form narratives, hoping that users cannot get those from a quick AI summary.&nbsp;Google-mediated traffic is no longer a surefire method to earn revenue. The only way out seems to be going directly to readers to pay: through subscription models, direct apps with adverts, or memberships.<h2>From SEO to GEO</h2>The new buzzword is “Generative Engine Optimisation” (GEO), which is about publishing content designed to be cited by Google AI Overviews. This would require good metadata, structured data or schema markup, clarity, freshness, reliability and novelty, among other things.Research on generative-search behaviour shows that only high-quality or well-structured web pages tend to get citations from Google AI. Low-quality or poorly organised content gets buried — even if it ranks well in traditional search results.While this means convenience for users, it is a massive disruption for both big publishers and small content creators — particularly those depending on search traffic for revenue.

Zero-click searches are growing on Google as AI Overviews overtake traditional search results. When users get answers on Google without visiting websites, the resulting traffic apocalypse is bleeding web publishers both big and small.


You ask a question, or put a few keywords into Google’s search bar. You get a search result page, with the top section featuring a bunch of paragraphs collected by Google’s powerful AI-bot Gemini. The links to relevant websites are provided at the end of these paragraphs in a “blink and you will miss” clip icon. Most of your query has been answered in this section. Would you waste your time clicking to open the website link from which Google collected the answer, and read it? Most likely, no. That’s the new user experience trend, which means you will never read the website article which Google milked for the summarised answers. That’s zero-click for you, in simplest terms. It’s extremely convenient for the internet user. But it’s a nightmare for digital publishers, who often spend millions of dollars creating teams, investing in research and journalism, and building website designs and infrastructure. Zero-click traffic apocalypse: 60 per cent of search queries end without a direct click to website pages Call it Zero-click searches, zero-click results or Google Zero — it all means the same thing: search queries where the answer is complete or sufficient directly on Google’s search results page (SERP), without any need to click through to external websites. Google is going big on this, with featured snippets, knowledge panels, direct-answer boxes, ‘People Also Ask’ (PAA) results, and AI overviews. Also read: 'Milestone quarter': Sundar Pichai reveals Google's bumper earnings amid AI boom Zero-Click searches are growing at mindboggling rates A 2024 study by SparkToro found that 58.5 per cent of Google searches in the US ended with zero clicks; in the European Union the rate was nearly 60 per cent. In other words, out of 1,000 Google searches in the US, only about 360–374 result in users clicking on external websites — the rest stay within Google’s first-page, top part. The global zero-click rate could be around 60 per cent in 2025, according to some reports. This could be even higher on mobile phones. By early 2025, AI Overviews — Google's synthesising of content from multiple sources into easy-to-read, conversational summaries at the top of SERPs — became increasingly common. Independent analyses indicate that when such overviews appear, click-through rates (CTR) for traditional links drop sharply: about 34 per cent fall in CTR for the top organic result when an AI-generated summary is present, in some cases. Also read: ‘Could change AI’: Google Gemini is performing strong even without Nvidia GPUs What does Zero-click mean for online publishers? Publishers who depend on organic search traffic, ad revenue and affiliate links are feeling the pain. News and informational sites have reported traffic drops, with zero-click results particularly dominating in daily news-related searches. Estimates for such zero-click results vary from around 56 per cent in mid-2024 to roughly 69 per cent by mid-2025. Websites that used to get monthly visits of 2.3 billion saw declines to roughly 1.7 billion after widespread AI-overview rollout. Organic referral traffic — once at the core of the publishing business — is down, with the worst-affected sites reporting declines of up to 80 per cent. https://www.wionews.com/videos/google-invests-2-billion-in-ai-startup-652910/embed Traffic apocalypse and the impending end of the “click economy” When pageviews go down, ad impressions, subscriptions, conversions and affiliate revenue also fall. Informational content like how-tos, 'what is' articles, and other evergreen content are hit hardest. This is the kind of content once optimised for SEO, and even advocated by Google. But even if a page ranks on top of Google search results now, there is no guarantee of traffic when the SERP itself supplies the answer. Old game of search engine optimisation is dying It is no longer enough to only rank on the first page of Google results — even first position no longer guarantees clicks. Publishers are scrambling for answers. They are trying to create content that adds unique value, such as exclusive insights, deep analysis, data-driven reporting, or long-form narratives, hoping that users cannot get those from a quick AI summary. Google-mediated traffic is no longer a surefire method to earn revenue. The only way out seems to be going directly to readers to pay: through subscription models, direct apps with adverts, or memberships. From SEO to GEO The new buzzword is “Generative Engine Optimisation” (GEO), which is about publishing content designed to be cited by Google AI Overviews. This would require good metadata, structured data or schema markup, clarity, freshness, reliability and novelty, among other things. Research on generative-search behaviour shows that only high-quality or well-structured web pages tend to get citations from Google AI. Low-quality or poorly organised content gets buried — even if it ranks well in traditional search results. While this means convenience for users, it is a massive disruption for both big publishers and small content creators — particularly those depending on search traffic for revenue.

Zero-click searches are growing on Google as AI Overviews overtake traditional search results. When users get answers on Google without visiting websites, the resulting traffic apocalypse is bleeding web publishers both big and small.

Google TRAFFIC APOCALYPSE: Zero click nightmare for websites as 'AI Answers' slowly kill an entire industry

Australia is about to roll out one of the toughest social media age rules in the world, and YouTube is hitting back hard. On Wednesday (Dec 3), the social media giant lashed out at the land down under, saying that the new ban on under-16s will do the opposite of what the government claims and could actually make kids less safe online. So what's going on here? WION Explains.<h2>What the new law does</h2>In a first-of-its-kind legislation, from December 10, anyone under 16 in Australia will be blocked from creating or using accounts on major social platforms. That includes Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube. Kids will still be able to visit some sites without signing in, but many core features will disappear. On YouTube, they will lose access to features like "wellbeing settings" and "safety filters".The government argues this is needed because social media algorithms push harmful content at young users, and parents simply can't monitor everything. Communications Minister Anika Wells went as far as calling the online environment a kind of "purgatory" for teens, shaped by algorithms that target their insecurities.According to the Australian government, the ban will be far from perfect from day one. Some kids will slip through, but the law gives regulators more leverage to force platforms to change. Companies that don't take what authorities consider "reasonable steps" to comply could face fines of $49.5 million (US$32 million).<h2>Why YouTube is furious</h2>YouTube says the law is "rushed," misguided, and based on a misunderstanding of how young people use the platform. The company's public policy manager, Rachel Lord, says under the new rules, YouTube will have to automatically sign out all Australian users under 16, based on the age listed in their Google accounts. "This law will not fulfil its promise to make kids safer online, and will, in fact, make Australian kids less safe on YouTube," he said.Kids could still watch videos without logging in, but they would lose tools meant to make the platform safer, including content filters and digital well-being settings. YouTube argues that stripping these features away will leave teens more exposed, not less. "We've heard from parents and educators who share these concerns," said Lord.YouTube had expected to avoid the ban altogether. The platform was originally seen as an exception because many students rely on it for educational videos. But the government hardened its stance in July, saying young users needed to be shielded from "predatory algorithms".<h2>What happens to kids’ accounts</h2>YouTube says it won't delete anything. Instead, it will archive underage accounts until the user turns 16. When they come back, all their content and settings will be waiting for them. "At YouTube, we believe in protecting kids&nbsp;in&nbsp;the digital world, not from&nbsp;the digital world."<h2>Australia hits back at YouTube</h2>Wells dismissed the company's complaints as "outright weird," arguing that if YouTube is suggesting its logged-out experience is unsafe, that’s YouTube’s problem to fix. "If YouTube is&nbsp;reminding us all that it is not safe&nbsp;and there's content not appropriate&nbsp;for age-restricted users on their&nbsp;website, that's a problem that&nbsp;YouTube needs to fix," she said.<h2>Will the ban actually work?</h2>Currently, "the algorithm will attack them so deftly, so subtly, it resembles an embrace. Their interactions will be unsupervised and weaponised because their parents can't watch them 24/7," Communications Minister Wells told reporters."With one law, we can protect Generation Alpha from being sucked into purgatory by the predatory algorithms," she said. She noted that some teenagers had killed themselves as algorithms "latched on" targeting them with content that drained their self-esteem.Australia concedes the rollout will be messy. Younger teens might find workarounds. Wells said that the nation is open to banning more platforms if it finds that children are migrating to alternative platforms.The landmark law could trigger similar legislation elsewhere. Malaysia is already planning a similar rule, and New Zealand is moving in the same direction.&nbsp;

Australia will ban anyone under 16 from using major social media platforms starting Dec 10, including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat. YouTube says the law will make kids less safe. WION explains: the law, YouTube's concerns and more.

Australia is about to roll out one of the toughest social media age rules in the world, and YouTube is hitting back hard. On Wednesday (Dec 3), the social media giant lashed out at the land down under, saying that the new ban on under-16s will do the opposite of what the government claims and could actually make kids less safe online. So what's going on here? WION Explains. What the new law does In a first-of-its-kind legislation, from December 10, anyone under 16 in Australia will be blocked from creating or using accounts on major social platforms. That includes Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube. Kids will still be able to visit some sites without signing in, but many core features will disappear. On YouTube, they will lose access to features like "wellbeing settings" and "safety filters". The government argues this is needed because social media algorithms push harmful content at young users, and parents simply can't monitor everything. Communications Minister Anika Wells went as far as calling the online environment a kind of "purgatory" for teens, shaped by algorithms that target their insecurities. According to the Australian government, the ban will be far from perfect from day one. Some kids will slip through, but the law gives regulators more leverage to force platforms to change. Companies that don't take what authorities consider "reasonable steps" to comply could face fines of $49.5 million (US$32 million). Why YouTube is furious YouTube says the law is "rushed," misguided, and based on a misunderstanding of how young people use the platform. The company's public policy manager, Rachel Lord, says under the new rules, YouTube will have to automatically sign out all Australian users under 16, based on the age listed in their Google accounts. "This law will not fulfil its promise to make kids safer online, and will, in fact, make Australian kids less safe on YouTube," he said. Kids could still watch videos without logging in, but they would lose tools meant to make the platform safer, including content filters and digital well-being settings. YouTube argues that stripping these features away will leave teens more exposed, not less. "We've heard from parents and educators who share these concerns," said Lord. YouTube had expected to avoid the ban altogether. The platform was originally seen as an exception because many students rely on it for educational videos. But the government hardened its stance in July, saying young users needed to be shielded from "predatory algorithms". What happens to kids’ accounts YouTube says it won't delete anything. Instead, it will archive underage accounts until the user turns 16. When they come back, all their content and settings will be waiting for them. "At YouTube, we believe in protecting kids in the digital world, not from the digital world." Australia hits back at YouTube Wells dismissed the company's complaints as "outright weird," arguing that if YouTube is suggesting its logged-out experience is unsafe, that’s YouTube’s problem to fix. "If YouTube is reminding us all that it is not safe and there's content not appropriate for age-restricted users on their website, that's a problem that YouTube needs to fix," she said. Will the ban actually work? Currently, "the algorithm will attack them so deftly, so subtly, it resembles an embrace. Their interactions will be unsupervised and weaponised because their parents can't watch them 24/7," Communications Minister Wells told reporters. "With one law, we can protect Generation Alpha from being sucked into purgatory by the predatory algorithms," she said. She noted that some teenagers had killed themselves as algorithms "latched on" targeting them with content that drained their self-esteem. Australia concedes the rollout will be messy. Younger teens might find workarounds. Wells said that the nation is open to banning more platforms if it finds that children are migrating to alternative platforms. The landmark law could trigger similar legislation elsewhere. Malaysia is already planning a similar rule, and New Zealand is moving in the same direction.

Australia will ban anyone under 16 from using major social media platforms starting Dec 10, including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat. YouTube says the law will make kids less safe. WION explains: the law, YouTube's concerns and more.

Australia bans under-16s from social media, but YouTube warns it could make them less safe. Here's how

EU lawmakers and member states early on Wednesday (Dec 3) announced that they have reached a deal to stop all Russian gas imports into the bloc by autumn 2027. The agreement is a middle ground between EU governments and the European Parliament, which had pushed for an earlier cutoff. In a statement, the European Council said the provisional deal will phase out Russian natural gas as part of efforts to break Europe’s long reliance on Moscow and respond to what it called Russia’s weaponisation of energy supplies.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/five-hour-kremlin-meeting-ends-with-putin-rejecting-trump-s-ukraine-peace-plan-no-compromise-on-territory-1764724500149">Five-hour Kremlin meeting ends with Putin rejecting Trump's Ukraine peace plan: 'No compromise' on territory</a><h2>EU phasing out Russian imports</h2>"Today, the Council presidency and the European Parliament's representatives reached a provisional agreement on the regulation to&nbsp;phase out imports of Russian natural gas," said a European Council statement.Under the plan, long-term contracts for Russian pipeline gas will end no later than November 1, 2027. Long-term liquified natural gas (LNG) contracts will halt from January 1, 2027. Short-term deals will be barred earlier, starting April 25, 2026, for LNG and June 17, 2026, for pipeline gas. The move aims "to end dependency on Russian energy following Russia's weaponisation of gas supplies with significant effects on the European energy market," said the EU. The timeline, as per AFP, still needs final approval from both the Parliament and EU member states.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-delhi-visit-putin-vows-deeper-partnership-with-india-says-he-wants-ties-at-a-qualitatively-new-level-1764726149599">Ahead of Delhi visit, Putin vows deeper partnership with India, says he wants ties at a 'qualitatively new level'</a>

EU countries and lawmakers struck a deal to ban all Russian gas imports by autumn 2027. Long-term contracts will end no later than November 1, 2027.

EU lawmakers and member states early on Wednesday (Dec 3) announced that they have reached a deal to stop all Russian gas imports into the bloc by autumn 2027. The agreement is a middle ground between EU governments and the European Parliament, which had pushed for an earlier cutoff. In a statement, the European Council said the provisional deal will phase out Russian natural gas as part of efforts to break Europe’s long reliance on Moscow and respond to what it called Russia’s weaponisation of energy supplies. Also read | Five-hour Kremlin meeting ends with Putin rejecting Trump's Ukraine peace plan: 'No compromise' on territory EU phasing out Russian imports "Today, the Council presidency and the European Parliament's representatives reached a provisional agreement on the regulation to phase out imports of Russian natural gas," said a European Council statement. Under the plan, long-term contracts for Russian pipeline gas will end no later than November 1, 2027. Long-term liquified natural gas (LNG) contracts will halt from January 1, 2027. Short-term deals will be barred earlier, starting April 25, 2026, for LNG and June 17, 2026, for pipeline gas. The move aims "to end dependency on Russian energy following Russia's weaponisation of gas supplies with significant effects on the European energy market," said the EU. The timeline, as per AFP, still needs final approval from both the Parliament and EU member states. Also read | Ahead of Delhi visit, Putin vows deeper partnership with India, says he wants ties at a 'qualitatively new level'

EU countries and lawmakers struck a deal to ban all Russian gas imports by autumn 2027. Long-term contracts will end no later than November 1, 2027.

EU seals landmark deal to ban all Russian gas imports within three years

Streaming giant Netflix has made a mostly cash offer to buy TV and film group Warner Bros Discovery as the storied yet debt-laden Hollywood studio presses on with a sale that could remake the US media landscape, a report said Monday.&nbsp;According to Bloomberg, Netflix joined Paramount Skydance and Comcast, the owner of NBCUniversal, in a second round of an auction that was being negotiated throughout the US Thanksgiving holiday.&nbsp;The parent company of HBO, CNN and the Warner Bros film studio officially put itself up for sale in October after receiving multiple unsolicited offers, setting aside a planned split into two separate entities - one focused on streaming and studios, the other on traditional cable networks.&nbsp;Warner Bros Discovery was originally targeted by Paramount -- recently acquired by the billionaire tech family of Oracle founder Larry Ellison, one of the world's richest men.&nbsp;His son David Ellison, a movie producer, is the Paramount CEO and had made three consecutive offers for the entertainment group before Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav launched the official sale process.&nbsp;Netflix, the world's largest streaming service with over 280 million subscribers globally, is working on a bridge loan totaling tens of billions of dollars to finance its potential acquisition, according to sources cited by Bloomberg.&nbsp;The deal would bulk up Netflix's already considerable content production capabilities and secure premium assets like HBO and Warner Bros studios.&nbsp;It would also likely face close scrutiny by antitrust authorities in the United States and potentially in other major markets.&nbsp;Top Hollywood players have voiced their preference to see Warner Bros not end up in the hands of Netflix, citing concerns that the streaming company largely seeks to limit theatrical releases of its film productions.&nbsp;"Titanic" director James Cameron told podcast "The Town" recently that a takeover of Warner Bros by Netflix would be "a disaster."&nbsp;Requests for comment to Netflix and Warner Bros Discovery were not answered at time of publication.

Netflix reportedly joined Paramount Skydance and Comcast, the owner of NBCUniversal, in a second round of an auction that was being negotiated throughout the Thanksgiving holiday. The parent company of HBO, CNN and the Warner Bros film studio officially put itself up for sale in October.

Streaming giant Netflix has made a mostly cash offer to buy TV and film group Warner Bros Discovery as the storied yet debt-laden Hollywood studio presses on with a sale that could remake the US media landscape, a report said Monday. According to Bloomberg, Netflix joined Paramount Skydance and Comcast, the owner of NBCUniversal, in a second round of an auction that was being negotiated throughout the US Thanksgiving holiday. The parent company of HBO, CNN and the Warner Bros film studio officially put itself up for sale in October after receiving multiple unsolicited offers, setting aside a planned split into two separate entities - one focused on streaming and studios, the other on traditional cable networks. Warner Bros Discovery was originally targeted by Paramount -- recently acquired by the billionaire tech family of Oracle founder Larry Ellison, one of the world's richest men. His son David Ellison, a movie producer, is the Paramount CEO and had made three consecutive offers for the entertainment group before Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav launched the official sale process. Netflix, the world's largest streaming service with over 280 million subscribers globally, is working on a bridge loan totaling tens of billions of dollars to finance its potential acquisition, according to sources cited by Bloomberg. The deal would bulk up Netflix's already considerable content production capabilities and secure premium assets like HBO and Warner Bros studios. It would also likely face close scrutiny by antitrust authorities in the United States and potentially in other major markets. Top Hollywood players have voiced their preference to see Warner Bros not end up in the hands of Netflix, citing concerns that the streaming company largely seeks to limit theatrical releases of its film productions. "Titanic" director James Cameron told podcast "The Town" recently that a takeover of Warner Bros by Netflix would be "a disaster." Requests for comment to Netflix and Warner Bros Discovery were not answered at time of publication.

Netflix reportedly joined Paramount Skydance and Comcast, the owner of NBCUniversal, in a second round of an auction that was being negotiated throughout the Thanksgiving holiday. The parent company of HBO, CNN and the Warner Bros film studio officially put itself up for sale in October.

Netflix makes cash offer to buy Warner Bros Discovery: report

Brushing off concerns over the economy, the US shoppers spent a whopping $14.5 billion on Cyber Monday, the last day of the five-day Thanksgiving shopping festival. The Black Friday sales stood at a record $11.8 billion. The consumer turned to Artificial intelligence powerd chatbots on online platforms to curate items and come up with the best offers.&nbsp;The total online sales over the Thanksgiving weekend climbed to a record $44.2 billion, up from 7.7 per cent from last year at $41.1 billion, according to a report by Adobe Analytics, as reported by Reuters.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-ridiculous-statement-india-rejects-pakistan-s-claims-of-blocking-humanitarian-aid-to-sri-lanka-amid-cyclone-ditwah-1764687512031">'Ridiculous statement': India rejects Pakistan's claims of blocking humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka amid Cyclone Ditwah</a>&nbsp;On the year's busiest shopping day, US online shopping saw an uptick of 9.1 per cent at Adobe Analytics report compared to last year.<h2>Consumer turns to AI-powered chatbots</h2>This year's Thanksgiving week also showcased a shifting trend in Consumer behaviour with increasing use of artificial intelligence as Americans relied on AI-powered chatbots to compare prices and track deals in categories like appliances, toys, video games and jewellery, the report said.&nbsp;Online retail platforms like Amazon.com, Walmart.com and Target presented the shoppers with attractive discounts across categories, catering both to the affluent and budget-conscious customers.&nbsp;AI-linked traffic to the retail sites registered a growth of 670 per cent on Cyber Monday, while during Black Friday it was up 805 per cent from the previous year, as per Adobe data.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/world-to-see-a-major-war-in-5-10-years-elon-musk-s-major-prediction-leaves-internet-speculating-1764681973948">World to see a major war in 5-10 years? Elon Musk’s major prediction leaves internet speculating</a>&nbsp;“Buy now, pay later” usage surged to a record level on Cyber Monday, with consumers spending $1.03 billion online, a 4.2% increase from last year, as many looked for financial flexibility amid rising household costs.<h2>Background on Thanksgiving shopping festival</h2>The Thanksgiving shopping period in the United States traditionally begins on the fourth Thursday of November and extends into a five-day shopping festival that includes Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Sunday sales, and Cyber Monday.&nbsp;This year, Thanksgiving falls on 27 November 2025, kicking off the five-day spree that runs through 1 December 2025, with retailers offering major nationwide discounts online and in stores.

The total online sales over the Thanksgiving weekend climbed to a record $44.2 billion, up by 7.7 per cent from last year at $41.1 billion.

Brushing off concerns over the economy, the US shoppers spent a whopping $14.5 billion on Cyber Monday, the last day of the five-day Thanksgiving shopping festival. The Black Friday sales stood at a record $11.8 billion. The consumer turned to Artificial intelligence powerd chatbots on online platforms to curate items and come up with the best offers. The total online sales over the Thanksgiving weekend climbed to a record $44.2 billion, up from 7.7 per cent from last year at $41.1 billion, according to a report by Adobe Analytics, as reported by Reuters. Also Read: 'Ridiculous statement': India rejects Pakistan's claims of blocking humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka amid Cyclone Ditwah On the year's busiest shopping day, US online shopping saw an uptick of 9.1 per cent at Adobe Analytics report compared to last year. Consumer turns to AI-powered chatbots This year's Thanksgiving week also showcased a shifting trend in Consumer behaviour with increasing use of artificial intelligence as Americans relied on AI-powered chatbots to compare prices and track deals in categories like appliances, toys, video games and jewellery, the report said. Online retail platforms like Amazon.com, Walmart.com and Target presented the shoppers with attractive discounts across categories, catering both to the affluent and budget-conscious customers. AI-linked traffic to the retail sites registered a growth of 670 per cent on Cyber Monday, while during Black Friday it was up 805 per cent from the previous year, as per Adobe data. Also Read: World to see a major war in 5-10 years? Elon Musk’s major prediction leaves internet speculating “Buy now, pay later” usage surged to a record level on Cyber Monday, with consumers spending $1.03 billion online, a 4.2% increase from last year, as many looked for financial flexibility amid rising household costs. Background on Thanksgiving shopping festival The Thanksgiving shopping period in the United States traditionally begins on the fourth Thursday of November and extends into a five-day shopping festival that includes Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Sunday sales, and Cyber Monday. This year, Thanksgiving falls on 27 November 2025, kicking off the five-day spree that runs through 1 December 2025, with retailers offering major nationwide discounts online and in stores.

The total online sales over the Thanksgiving weekend climbed to a record $44.2 billion, up by 7.7 per cent from last year at $41.1 billion.

US online sales hit record $44.2 billion during Thanksgiving holiday shopping: Report

Germany's economy is suffering its "deepest crisis" since World War II, an industry group warned Tuesday, calling on Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government to take urgent action to spark a revival.Europe's biggest economy "is in free fall, but the federal government is not responding decisively enough," said Peter Leibinger, president of the Federation of German Industries (BDI).Predicting that industrial production will fall in 2025 for the fourth year in a row, the BDI warned this is "not a temporary economic dip -- but a structural decline".The German economy is facing a perfect storm: high energy costs burdening manufacturers, weak demand for its exports in key markets, the emergence of China as an industrial rival, and the US tariff onslaught.It has suffered two years of recession and is forecast to eke out just meagre growth in 2025.Merz, who took power in May, has pledged to revive the economy but is facing growing criticism that his government's efforts are moving too slowly and are ineffective.Leibinger charged that the coalition was "not responding with sufficient determination"."Germany now needs an economic policy turnaround with clear priorities for competitiveness and growth," he added.Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Merz, who took power in May, has pledged to revive the economy but is facing growing criticism that his government's efforts are moving too slowly and are ineffective.

Germany's economy is suffering its "deepest crisis" since World War II, an industry group warned Tuesday, calling on Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government to take urgent action to spark a revival. Europe's biggest economy "is in free fall, but the federal government is not responding decisively enough," said Peter Leibinger, president of the Federation of German Industries (BDI). Predicting that industrial production will fall in 2025 for the fourth year in a row, the BDI warned this is "not a temporary economic dip -- but a structural decline". The German economy is facing a perfect storm: high energy costs burdening manufacturers, weak demand for its exports in key markets, the emergence of China as an industrial rival, and the US tariff onslaught. It has suffered two years of recession and is forecast to eke out just meagre growth in 2025. Merz, who took power in May, has pledged to revive the economy but is facing growing criticism that his government's efforts are moving too slowly and are ineffective. Leibinger charged that the coalition was "not responding with sufficient determination". "Germany now needs an economic policy turnaround with clear priorities for competitiveness and growth," he added. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Merz, who took power in May, has pledged to revive the economy but is facing growing criticism that his government's efforts are moving too slowly and are ineffective.

German economy facing 'deepest crisis' of post-war era

The government on Monday (Dec 01) said 15 economic fugitive offenders, including Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi, caused nearly $3 billion (Rs 26,645 crore) loss to the Indian exchequer. These individuals have been declared Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEOs) under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA) as of October 31, 2025, Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary informed the Lok Sabha.&nbsp;The Minister stated that these 15 FEOs collectively caused a principal financial loss of Rs 26,645 crore to banks up to October 31, 2025. In addition, the interest accrued on these loans from the date of becoming NPAs up to October 31, 2025, amounts to another ($3.8 billion) Rs 31,437 crore.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-verifiable-information-about-his-condition-imran-khan-s-son-raises-concern-over-father-s-safetysouth-asia-asim-munir-pakistan-army-pakistan-1764590769966">No verifiable information about his condition: Imran Khan’s son raises concern over father’s safety</a>&nbsp;"Of the 15 offenders, nine are involved in large-scale financial fraud committed against public sector banks. The list includes several high-profile names, such as Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi, among others, "Chaudhary said.&nbsp;The Minister was replying to an unstarred question raised by Lok Sabha member and Congress MP from Rajasthan's Dausa Murari Lal Meena during the Winter Session of Parliament.&nbsp;Rs 19,187 crore ($2.3 billion) has been recovered from these offenders till October 31, 2025, the house was informed.&nbsp;The Minister also disclosed the names of declared fugitives as Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Nitin J Sandesara, Chetan J Sandesara, Dipti C Sandesara, Sudharshan Venkatraman, Ramanujam Sesharathnam, Pushpesh Kumar Baid, and Hitesh Kumar Narendrabhai Patel.Replying to a query about whether the government is formulating a policy to prevent such offenders from leaving the country through legal bans or watchlists, Choudhary said no such policy is under consideration currently.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-some-parties-simply-can-t-accept-defeat-pm-modi-hits-out-at-opposition-as-winter-session-of-parliament-begins-1764571475140">'Some parties simply can't accept defeat': PM Modi hits out at Opposition as Winter Session of Parliament begins</a>&nbsp;Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged parties attending the sixth session (winter session) of the 18th Lok Sabha and the 269th Rajya Sabha to avoid turning Parliament into a “battleground for frustration came out after defeat” or an “arena for arrogance born out of victory.” He stated that the House must stay centred on national development and democratic duties.&nbsp;&nbsp;

$2.3 billion (₹19,187 crore) has been recovered from these offenders till 31 October 2025, the government informed the parliament.

The government on Monday (Dec 01) said 15 economic fugitive offenders, including Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi, caused nearly $3 billion (Rs 26,645 crore) loss to the Indian exchequer. These individuals have been declared Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEOs) under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA) as of October 31, 2025, Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary informed the Lok Sabha. The Minister stated that these 15 FEOs collectively caused a principal financial loss of Rs 26,645 crore to banks up to October 31, 2025. In addition, the interest accrued on these loans from the date of becoming NPAs up to October 31, 2025, amounts to another ($3.8 billion) Rs 31,437 crore. Also Read: No verifiable information about his condition: Imran Khan’s son raises concern over father’s safety "Of the 15 offenders, nine are involved in large-scale financial fraud committed against public sector banks. The list includes several high-profile names, such as Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi, among others, "Chaudhary said. The Minister was replying to an unstarred question raised by Lok Sabha member and Congress MP from Rajasthan's Dausa Murari Lal Meena during the Winter Session of Parliament. Rs 19,187 crore ($2.3 billion) has been recovered from these offenders till October 31, 2025, the house was informed. The Minister also disclosed the names of declared fugitives as Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Nitin J Sandesara, Chetan J Sandesara, Dipti C Sandesara, Sudharshan Venkatraman, Ramanujam Sesharathnam, Pushpesh Kumar Baid, and Hitesh Kumar Narendrabhai Patel. Replying to a query about whether the government is formulating a policy to prevent such offenders from leaving the country through legal bans or watchlists, Choudhary said no such policy is under consideration currently. Also Read: 'Some parties simply can't accept defeat': PM Modi hits out at Opposition as Winter Session of Parliament begins Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged parties attending the sixth session (winter session) of the 18th Lok Sabha and the 269th Rajya Sabha to avoid turning Parliament into a “battleground for frustration came out after defeat” or an “arena for arrogance born out of victory.” He stated that the House must stay centred on national development and democratic duties.

$2.3 billion (₹19,187 crore) has been recovered from these offenders till 31 October 2025, the government informed the parliament.

Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi among 15 declared fugitives, who caused $3 billion loss to India: Govt

Airlines across the globe rushed to fix the software glitch on Airbus A320 jets on Saturday after the European aerospace giant ordered a partial recall and halted hundreds of flights on one of the busiest weekends of the year in the US, Asia, and Europe. As a result, thousands of Airbus planes started returning to normal service after being briefly grounded over a warning of a glitch that solar radiation could interfere with onboard computers. Airbus said about 6,000 of its A320 planes required a quick software update while 900 older planes needed a computer replacement. Airlines toiled through the night after global regulators told them to get the upgrade done before resuming flights.&nbsp;&nbsp;AirAsia, one of the world’s largest A320 customers, said it aimed to complete fixes in 48 hours.&nbsp;India’s aviation regulator said earlier on Saturday that budget giant IndiGo had completed the reset on 184 out of 200 aircraft. Later, IndiGo shared that it has completed the upgrade fully&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Travel Update We are pleased to share a completion update on the mandatory Airbus system enhancement across our A320-family fleet. All 200 aircraft have now been fully updated and compliant as required. This programme involved a carefully coordinated sequence of work, with our…&mdash; IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiGo6E/status/1994821823624876373?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Air India said it has successfully completed the reset on over 90% of its operating A320 family aircraft that were impacted.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UPDATE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UPDATE</a> Air India has successfully completed the reset on over 90% of its operating A320 family aircraft that were impacted by EASA and Airbus’ requirement for a software realignment. We expect to cover the entire fleet within the timeline prescribed by EASA, with safety…&mdash; Air India (@airindia) <a href="https://twitter.com/airindia/status/1994810530717208998?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said on Saturday that the updates “went very smoothly” for more than 5,000 planes, and fewer than 100 still needed the update. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-will-send-forces-to-gaza-confirms-ishaq-dar-says-disarming-hamas-not-our-job-1764432460562">Pakistan will send forces to Gaza, confirms Ishaq Dar, says disarming Hamas ‘not our job’</a> Several Air France flights in and out of Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport were delayed or cancelled on Saturday morning.American Airlines said there were “operational delays” but the vast majority of updates would be carried out by Saturday.Delta Airlines said it believed the impact on its operations would be limited. The UK Civil Aviation Authority said that airlines operating in the country worked through the night to carry out the update and air traffic had not been seriously affected. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-there-will-be-jihad-if-there-is-oppression-says-jamiat-chief-madani-triggers-political-storm-1764419509667">‘There will be jihad if there is oppression,’ says Jamiat chief Madani, triggers political storm</a> In Australia, budget airline Jetstar cancelled 90 flights but most of its aircraft have now undergone the update, but some disruptions are expected though the weekend.Air New Zealand grounded its A320 planes, but all fights resumed after the update was completed. Airbus discovered the issue after a JetBlue Airways plane flying between the US and Mexico suddenly lost altitude in October and at least 15 people were injured. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-hit-two-shadow-fleet-tankers-with-drones-in-black-sea-says-security-official-1764426331464">Ukraine hit two ‘shadow fleet’ tankers with drones in Black Sea, says security official</a> It identified a problem with the aircraft’s computing software which calculates a plane’s elevation, and found that at high altitudes, data could be corrupted by intense radiation released periodically by the Sun.Besides the A320, the A318, A319, and A321 models were also affected. Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury apologised to airlines and passengers after the surprise recall of 6,000 planes or more than half of the global A320-family fleet, which recently overtook the Boeing 737 as the industry’s most-delivered model.“I want to sincerely apologise to our airline customers and passengers who are impacted now,” Faury posted on LinkedIn.

India’s aviation regulator said on Saturday that IndiGo had completed the reset on 184 out of 200 aircraft. Air India said it has successfully completed the reset on over 90% of its operating A320 family aircraft. AirAsia said it aimed to complete fixes in 48 hours.

Airlines across the globe rushed to fix the software glitch on Airbus A320 jets on Saturday after the European aerospace giant ordered a partial recall and halted hundreds of flights on one of the busiest weekends of the year in the US, Asia, and Europe. As a result, thousands of Airbus planes started returning to normal service after being briefly grounded over a warning of a glitch that solar radiation could interfere with onboard computers. Airbus said about 6,000 of its A320 planes required a quick software update while 900 older planes needed a computer replacement. Airlines toiled through the night after global regulators told them to get the upgrade done before resuming flights. AirAsia, one of the world’s largest A320 customers, said it aimed to complete fixes in 48 hours. India’s aviation regulator said earlier on Saturday that budget giant IndiGo had completed the reset on 184 out of 200 aircraft. Later, IndiGo shared that it has completed the upgrade fully

India’s aviation regulator said on Saturday that IndiGo had completed the reset on 184 out of 200 aircraft. Air India said it has successfully completed the reset on over 90% of its operating A320 family aircraft. AirAsia said it aimed to complete fixes in 48 hours.

Flights returning to normal after airlines toil to upgrade grounded Airbus planes

Airbus has discovered that intense radiation from the sun could corrupt data crucial to flight controls in its A320 aircraft and has requested immediate modifications to thousands of aircraft. As a result, about 6,000 planes are likely to be affected, about half the global fleet of the European aerospace giant. However, most aircraft will have to undergo a simple software update.Airbus said the issue affects the A320, its best-selling aircraft, and some other models from the same design fleet, like the A318, A319 and the A321. Airbus said the problem was discovered after a recent ‘incident’ in the US involving an A320 family aircraft and apologised for disruption to passengers. The incident, which occurred on 30 October, involved a JetBlue Airways A320 making an emergency landing in Florida, after a sudden drop in altitude. At least 15 people were reportedly injured.&nbsp;The problem is that intense solar and cosmic radiation at high altitudes can affect the working of the ELAC computer, which controls the elevators and ailerons. These are aerodynamic surfaces that are used to make the aircraft pitch up or down or roll to turn.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/quebec-s-new-secularism-law-to-ban-public-prayers-face-coverings-in-public-institutions-1764358100405">Quebec’s new secularism law to ban public prayers, face coverings in public institutions</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ImportantAdvisory?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ImportantAdvisory</a> We are aware of a directive from Airbus related to its A320 family aircraft currently in-service across airline operators. This will result in a software/hardware realignment on a part of our fleet, leading to longer turnaround time and delays to our…&mdash; Air India (@airindia) <a href="https://twitter.com/airindia/status/1994484562437836873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The issue can be addressed using a relatively simple software update on around 5,100 Airbus planes, but the older versions will need some new hardware also and will need to be taken out of service for modification.Airbus has apologised saying it acknowledges that this will lead to “operational disruption to passengers and customers”.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/italy-unveils-michelangelo-dome-air-defence-system-as-shield-against-modern-threats-1764353684898">Italy unveils ‘Michelangelo Dome’ air defence system as shield against modern threats</a><h2>Airbus directive could lead to flight delays: Air India</h2>&nbsp;Air India said the directive from Airbus could lead to delays. In a post on X, Air India said, “We are aware of a directive from Airbus related to its A320 family aircraft currently in-service across airline operators. This will result in a software/hardware realignment on a part of our fleet, leading to longer turnaround time and delays to our scheduled operations. Air India regrets any inconvenience this may cause to passengers till the reset is carried out across the fleet.”&nbsp;The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the UK’s aviation regulator, said the request from Airbus would “likely to mean that unfortunately there may be some disruption and cancellations to flights”.“Passengers should check with their airline whether their flights are affected. Airlines have a duty of care to look after passengers when a flight is delayed,” said Giancarlo Buono, director of aviation safety at CAA.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-s-q2-gdp-grows-at-8-2-highest-in-six-quarters-despite-trump-tariffs-1764333228141">India’s Q2 GDP grows at 8.2%, highest in six quarters, despite Trump tariffs</a>&nbsp;The A320 aircraft are “fly by wire” planes in which there is no direct mechanical link between the controls in the cockpit and the parts of the aircraft that actually govern flight. The pilot’s actions are interpreted by computers, which actually “fly” the plane.The manufacturer has issued an alert to all airlines, requesting them to take “immediate precautionary action…in order to implement the available software and/or hardware protection and ensure the fleet is safe to fly”.

The problem is that intense solar and cosmic radiation at high altitudes can affect the working of the ELAC computer, which controls the elevators and ailerons. These are aerodynamic surfaces that are used to make the aircraft pitch up or down or roll to turn.

Airbus has discovered that intense radiation from the sun could corrupt data crucial to flight controls in its A320 aircraft and has requested immediate modifications to thousands of aircraft. As a result, about 6,000 planes are likely to be affected, about half the global fleet of the European aerospace giant. However, most aircraft will have to undergo a simple software update. Airbus said the issue affects the A320, its best-selling aircraft, and some other models from the same design fleet, like the A318, A319 and the A321. Airbus said the problem was discovered after a recent ‘incident’ in the US involving an A320 family aircraft and apologised for disruption to passengers. The incident, which occurred on 30 October, involved a JetBlue Airways A320 making an emergency landing in Florida, after a sudden drop in altitude. At least 15 people were reportedly injured. The problem is that intense solar and cosmic radiation at high altitudes can affect the working of the ELAC computer, which controls the elevators and ailerons. These are aerodynamic surfaces that are used to make the aircraft pitch up or down or roll to turn. Also Read: Quebec’s new secularism law to ban public prayers, face coverings in public institutions

The problem is that intense solar and cosmic radiation at high altitudes can affect the working of the ELAC computer, which controls the elevators and ailerons. These are aerodynamic surfaces that are used to make the aircraft pitch up or down or roll to turn.

Airbus detects glitch in A320 family aircraft; 6,000 planes to be grounded for upgrade