For the third consecutive day, IndiGo, India's largest airline, has plunged air travel into chaos, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at airports across the country. The airline's massive operational disruptions, driven by an acute crew shortage, have led to the cancellation of over 300 domestic and international flights since Wednesday, December 4, 2025.
Scale of the Disruption: Airports Gripped by Chaos
The crisis has impacted major aviation hubs nationwide. Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport saw at least 95 flight cancellations, while Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport had 85 flights grounded. Hyderabad and Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport were also severely affected, with 70 and 50 cancellations respectively, as per sources quoted by PTI. The cascading effect of delays and last-minute cancellations created scenes of frustration and confusion at terminals.
Passengers took to social media to voice their anger, sharing videos of long queues, arguments with staff, and luggage piled on trolleys. At Lucknow's Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, crowds chanted slogans against the airline. Many travellers reported having to book last-minute alternative tickets at double or triple the original fare, with no compensation from the carrier.
Root Causes and Official Responses
In a statement on Wednesday, IndiGo attributed the meltdown to a confluence of factors. The airline cited "minor technology glitches, schedule changes for winter, adverse weather, increased system congestion, and the implementation of updated crew rostering rules (FDTL)." It stated these elements had a "negative compounding impact" that was not anticipated. The second phase of the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms, aimed at enhancing pilot rest periods, is seen as a primary trigger for the sudden crew unavailability.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has stepped in, ordering IndiGo to present a detailed report on the causes and a concrete plan to mitigate the disruptions. The regulator revealed that in November alone, 1,232 flights were cancelled, with 755 directly linked to crew and FDTL constraints.
The Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA) pointed a finger at the airline's planning, calling it a "failure of proactive resource planning." The association also suggested the disruptions could be an attempt to pressure the DGCA into diluting the new FDTL norms.
Passenger Outcry and Political Reaction
The human cost of the crisis was starkly evident. Passengers like Arun Prabhudesai described being at the airport for hours with zero communication. Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi criticized the aviation sector's duopoly, linking it to high fares and poor infrastructure, and demanded a statement from the aviation minister in Parliament.
While IndiGo has not issued a fresh statement on Thursday, it has been responding to individual complaints on social media, expressing regret and stating that disrupting travel plans is never their intention. The airline is offering affected customers alternate flights or refunds and has urged all passengers to check their flight status online before heading to the airport.
Major airports, including Delhi and Cochin, have issued advisories, acknowledging the operational issues with "one domestic carrier" and advising passengers to contact their airlines directly for the latest updates. As the weekend approaches, the pressure is mounting on IndiGo to restore normalcy and for regulators to ensure such widespread travel chaos is not repeated.
