Passengers flying with IndiGo faced significant travel disruptions on Wednesday, as the airline was forced to cancel a large number of flights across its network. The primary reason cited for the widespread cancellations is an acute shortage of available cabin crew members.
Major Disruptions at Bengaluru's KIA
The impact was sharply felt at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), which serves as a major hub for the carrier. On December 3, 2025, a total of 42 IndiGo flights were cancelled at the airport. This breakdown included 20 departure flights and 22 arrival flights, leaving hundreds of travelers stranded and scrambling for alternatives.
Nationwide Impact and Cited Cause
While Bengaluru witnessed the most concentrated effect, operations in other key cities like Mumbai were also hit by the cancellations. The airline attributed the operational meltdown to a shortage of cabin crew. Such shortages can arise from various factors including scheduling issues, unexpected leave, or logistical bottlenecks in crew positioning.
The cascading effect of these cancellations led to:
- Long queues at customer service desks for rebooking or refunds.
- Last-minute fare surges on other airlines as affected passengers sought immediate options.
- General confusion and frustration among flyers, especially those with connecting journeys or time-sensitive plans.
Passenger Advisory and Looking Ahead
IndiGo, which is India's largest airline by market share, typically advises passengers to check their flight status via the airline's official website or mobile app before heading to the airport in such situations. The airline is likely working to normalize its schedule by repositioning crew and possibly deploying larger aircraft on certain routes to accommodate more passengers.
This incident underscores the operational challenges airlines can face due to resource constraints, directly impacting the reliability of air travel for consumers. Passengers booked on IndiGo in the coming days are advised to stay updated on their flight's status for any further disruptions.
