Thousands of air passengers across India, particularly in Hyderabad, are facing severe distress and uncertainty as budget carrier IndiGo continues to grapple with a major operational crisis. The airline has cancelled nearly 500 flights over several days, with the disruption heavily impacting travel scheduled for the crucial weekend of December 13 to 15.
Weekend Plans in Disarray as Uncertainty Prevails
Passengers booked to fly between December 13 and 15 are in a state of panic, constantly refreshing booking apps and airline websites for updates. The fear of last-minute cancellations has made planning impossible. IndiGo has attempted to reassure travellers, stating operations should stabilise between December 10 and 15. The carrier announced it is on track to operate 1,650 flights on Sunday, up from 1,500 on Saturday. However, for those who have endured six consecutive days of cancellations, these assurances provide little comfort.
The human impact of the disruption is stark. A senior official from the South Central Railway, part of a 50-person group travelling to Dehradun for a conference, highlighted the dilemma. "If we cancel the tickets, we will lose money because the fares were booked in bulk. But if we don't cancel and IndiGo scraps the flight at the last minute, the entire conference schedule will collapse", he said. The group is now considering a backup plan involving a train to Delhi followed by a road journey to Dehradun.
Scale of the Crisis and Passenger Anguish
The scale of the cancellations is significant, marking one of the worst airline disruptions in recent years. On Sunday alone, IndiGo scrapped more than 100 additional flights. For many, the constant uncertainty is more stressful than the cancellation itself. Rajeev Chaudhary Sharma, scheduled to fly to Jaipur on December 14, voiced a common frustration: "We're all scared even to pack our bags. Every day, IndiGo keeps saying operations will stabilise 'soon'. But every day, more flights are cancelled."
Airport Operations Remain Normal Despite Chaos
Interestingly, despite the airline's internal meltdown, airport infrastructure appears to be functioning smoothly. The Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed that airport directors at major hubs including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Goa reported normal conditions. Passenger movement at terminals remains fluid, with no unusual crowding observed at check-in, security, or boarding points. This indicates that the issue is confined to the airline's operational capabilities rather than a broader systemic failure at airports.
The ongoing crisis underscores the vulnerability of travel plans during peak periods when reliant on a single carrier. As IndiGo works to restore its schedule, passengers are left weighing financial losses against the risk of complete itinerary collapse, a stressful position no traveller expects to be in.
