Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport descended into chaos on Saturday morning, as the nationwide operational crisis at IndiGo continued to wreak havoc on passenger travel plans. The situation remained dire despite a recent regulatory intervention, leading to long queues, widespread distress, and a significant number of cancelled flights.
DGCA Directive Fails to Stem the Tide
The turmoil unfolded even after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) decided to temporarily suspend its Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) directive. This move, intended to provide airlines with more flexibility in crew scheduling, came after several days of severe delays and cancellations across IndiGo's network. However, the relief measure showed little immediate effect on the ground in Ahmedabad.
Airport authorities reported a stark picture of the disruption. Between midnight and 6 am on Saturday alone, seven incoming flights and twelve departures were cancelled at the Ahmedabad airport. This cascaded into snaking queues at counters, severely congested terminal areas, and mounting frustration among travellers who found themselves with limited or no alternatives for their journeys.
Dreams Dashed: Hackathon Team's Heartbreak
Among the most poignant stories of disruption was that of Mahrishi Jani and his team. Visibly distressed, Jani explained how the cancellations shattered a major opportunity they had worked towards for months. His team was scheduled to fly to Guwahati via Kolkata on a 6:15 am IndiGo flight to participate in the prestigious Smart India Hackathon 2025 at North-Eastern Hill University.
"We were selected from nearly 74,000 submitted ideas; only about 1400 were chosen," Jani told ANI. The abrupt cancellation left all eight members—six students and two mentors—stranded with no viable travel plan. "Our hard work of 6-7 months is now wasted. We are returning home," he said, highlighting that taking a train would require three days, making participation impossible. "Such opportunities are rare... we were selected in the first attempt, but due to flight cancellation, we are unable to go ahead."
Passengers Left in Limbo for Days
The crisis affected both domestic and international connecting passengers. Ikhlaq Hussain described a gruelling ordeal of being stuck in Ahmedabad for two days despite having arrived from Jeddah. His journey to Lucknow remained uncertain as his flight was repeatedly delayed. His experience underscored the multi-day impact of the airline's operational failures, leaving passengers in a state of limbo.
The government has stepped in amidst the ongoing crisis, issuing directives to airlines. Authorities have ordered IndiGo to complete all pending ticket refunds by 8 pm on Sunday. Furthermore, a broader directive has been issued to all airlines, instructing them to strictly adhere to fare caps to prevent price gouging during the period of high demand and limited availability caused by the cancellations.
The scenes at Ahmedabad's airport serve as a microcosm of a larger national problem for IndiGo. With the DGCA's temporary relaxation of rules failing to produce immediate stability, passengers across India continue to face uncertainty, disrupted plans, and significant personal and professional setbacks.
