Passengers at Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport faced significant disruption for the fifth consecutive day as IndiGo cancelled a substantial number of flights. The airline's operational crisis, stemming from crew shortages, has triggered a nationwide travel chaos, prompting intervention from Indian Railways to assist affected flyers.
Flight Cancellations and Operational Snarls
By 10 am on Sunday, December 7, 2025, 20 IndiGo flights were cancelled at the Ahmedabad airport. This included 12 incoming and 8 outgoing flights. Airport sources confirmed that the airline managed to operate only 39 flights during this period—17 arrivals and 22 departures.
The situation was even more severe on Saturday, December 6, when a staggering 72 IndiGo flights were axed in Ahmedabad alone (34 arrivals and 38 departures). On that day, the airline operated a total of 112 flights.
Railways Steps In with On-Site Assistance
In response to the growing crisis and the sight of stranded passengers, the Ministry of Railways and IRCTC have established a dedicated help desk at the Ahmedabad airport. A source at the airport explained the initiative, stating that the desk was set up outside the terminal to address the chaos.
The IRCTC help desk offers two key services to passengers whose flights were cancelled. Firstly, they can process refunds for their cancelled air tickets. Secondly, they can immediately book railway tickets for alternative travel. The government is operating special trains to various destinations to accommodate the surge in demand.
"For stranded passengers, the government is operating special trains to various destinations. So, the passengers can take a refund and book the railway ticket from there," the source said. The desk is particularly helpful for passengers staying in hotels within a 5-6 km radius of the airport.
Regulatory Scrutiny and Root Cause
The widespread disruption has drawn sharp criticism from the aviation regulator. On Saturday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a showcause notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers. The notice demands an explanation for the massive operational failure that has inconvenienced thousands.
According to sources, the regulator stated that the large-scale cancellations and delays point to significant lapses in planning, oversight, and resource management by the airline. The primary trigger for this crisis is a severe crew shortage, which IndiGo failed to adequately plan for following the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules.
As India's largest carrier commanding over 60% of the domestic market, IndiGo's operational breakdown has had a ripple effect, causing chaos at major airports across the country and leaving a massive number of passengers in the lurch.
