IndiGo Airlines has been hit by one of its worst operational disruptions in recent years, with widespread delays and cancellations leaving thousands of passengers stranded across the country.
More than 100 flights are expected to be cancelled today, with IndiGo officials summoned by the DGCA for an afternoon meeting. The airline is likely to submit a crisis-mitigation plan to the regulator.
Over the past two days, an estimated 250 to 300 flights were cancelled, affecting major airports and leading to long queues, confusion and rising frustration among travellers.
On Thursday, IndiGo issued a public apology, expressing regret for the large-scale inconvenience caused to passengers. The airline said the cancellations and delays were triggered by a combination of “unexpected operational issues" that collectively brought its network under severe strain.
According to the airline, minor technical glitches, winter schedule adjustments, adverse weather conditions, heavy airport congestion and updated crew rostering rules all contributed to the disruption. IndiGo said the convergence of these factors created a level of pressure that it “could not have anticipated".
To stabilise its operations, IndiGo has introduced calibrated changes to its schedules for the next 48 hours. The airline said these temporary adjustments would help restore punctuality and prevent further disruption.
Affected passengers are being offered alternative travel options wherever possible, including rebooked flights or refunds. IndiGo said it is working to ensure that its network returns to normal at the earliest.Severe impact at major airports
The disruption was felt sharply at several airports, including Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
At Bengaluru airport, multiple IndiGo flights were delayed for hours, sparking anger among stranded passengers. Travellers complained about the lack of clear communication and said they had been left waiting without proper updates. Many also pointed out that inadequate seating inside the terminal added to their difficulties during the long delays.
In Hyderabad, the situation was equally strained. As of 7:30 am today, IndiGo had cancelled 35 incoming flights and 33 outgoing flights, causing significant travel chaos. Several flights were also affected by a shortage of pilots and cabin crew, adding further pressure to the airline’s already stretched operations.
The disruption was felt sharply at several airports, including Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
At Bengaluru airport, multiple IndiGo flights were delayed for hours, sparking anger among stranded passengers. Travellers complained about the lack of clear communication and said they had been left waiting without proper updates. Many also pointed out that inadequate seating inside the terminal added to their difficulties during the long delays.
In Hyderabad, the situation was equally strained. As of 7:30 am today, IndiGo had cancelled 35 incoming flights and 33 outgoing flights, causing significant travel chaos. Several flights were also affected by a shortage of pilots and cabin crew, adding further pressure to the airline’s already stretched operations.
Also, 26 IndiGo flights from Chennai cancelled today due to “operational reasons". In Delhi Airport, 30 IndiGo departure (domestic and international) cancelled since morning.
As per reports, routes to Kolkata, Goa, Delhi and Pune are also affected.
IndiGo’s flight operations at Jammu Airport were severely affected on Thursday as nationwide crew shortages, new duty-time rules and technical issues triggered widespread delays. The airline operates 11 flights from Jammu, of which one has been cancelled, while five of the remaining 20 have already been delayed. As of 11 am, a total of 18 IndiGo flights are scheduled to operate from Srinagar Airport today. Of these, two have been cancelled while three are currently delayed.
Across airports, passengers voiced their frustration as schedules continued to slip. Many said their flights had been delayed for several hours with little clarity on departure timings. Social media platforms saw a surge of posts from affected travellers sharing their experiences
Source: News18