A severe operational meltdown at IndiGo, India's largest airline, has led to widespread flight cancellations and extensive delays across major airports, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and facing exorbitant last-minute airfares. The crisis, stemming from acute crew shortages and technical issues, has now prompted direct intervention from aviation regulators.
The ripple effects of the disruption were felt sharply at Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, where four IndiGo flights—two arrivals and two departures—were cancelled. Additionally, three arrivals and three departures were significantly delayed, compounding passenger woes.
Similar scenes unfolded at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, a critical national hub, where a staggering 225 IndiGo flights were cancelled on Friday alone. Over the past three days, the airline has cancelled more than 1,000 flights, with Thursday marking a grim milestone: over 550 cancellations in a single day—the highest for the carrier in two decades.
Operational challenges have paralyzed schedules in Maharashtra as well. Between midnight and 8 AM on Friday, 16 arrivals and 16 departures were cancelled, primarily affecting Pune and Mumbai. Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport also reported significant disruptions.
The human cost of the crisis is mounting. Stranded passengers report chaotic conditions, lack of basic amenities, and financial strain.
"I had an IndiGo flight from Ahmedabad to Varanasi scheduled yesterday...After numerous delays we cancelled our flight but we did not get back our luggage on time. We are stranded here for almost 10-12 hours now, and we have received neither water nor food," one distressed passenger said.
The situation is exacerbated by skyrocketing ticket prices on alternative flights. Passengers are being compelled to pay between ₹20,000 to ₹30,000 for rebooking, as fares on other airlines have doubled amid the scramble for seats.
Facing unprecedented operational stress, IndiGo has sought regulatory relief. The airline has requested the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for exemptions from specific Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) provisions for its A320 fleet operations until February 10, 2026. The carrier has assured the regulator that corrective measures are underway and "normalized and stable operations will be fully restored" by that date.
The DGCA, however, has adopted a stricter stance. It has warned IndiGo against exploiting the situation to hike fares and stated it will closely monitor the airline’s operations, improvement steps, and passenger services in the coming days. The regulator's warning comes as IndiGo disclosed that more cancellations are expected over the next 2–3 days as it attempts to stabilize its schedule. Starting December 8, the airline will reduce the number of flights to manage daily disruptions.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has reviewed the situation and has instructed all airports to provide all possible assistance to stranded passengers, including facilitating access to food, water, and accommodation where necessary.
The ongoing crisis underscores systemic vulnerabilities within the aviation sector's largest player and highlights the urgent need for robust contingency planning. As IndiGo scrambles to restore normalcy, the coming days will be a critical test of its operational resilience and its commitment to passenger welfare, under the vigilant eye of a watchful regulator and an increasingly frustrated traveling public.
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