India's largest airline, IndiGo, is facing massive operational disruptions, leading to the cancellation of well over a thousand flights in recent days. The situation reached a critical point on Thursday, December 5, 2025, prompting a public apology from the company's chief executive.
CEO's Public Apology and Scale of Disruption
IndiGo's Chief Executive Officer, Pieter Elbers, addressed the widespread travel chaos on Thursday. He formally apologized to passengers while revealing the severe impact of the ongoing crisis. Elbers acknowledged that December 5 was the most severely affected day, with well over a thousand flights cancelled. This staggering number represented more than half of the airline's daily operations.
Timeline and Extent of Flight Cancellations
The wave of cancellations is not an isolated incident. The airline's troubles began earlier in the week. Since December 2nd, IndiGo has cancelled more than 1,000 flights in total. In addition to the outright cancellations, a significant number of other flights across its network have faced extensive delays, compounding the inconvenience for thousands of travelers.
Return to Normal Operations Will Take Time
In his statement, CEO Pieter Elbers set realistic expectations for passengers, indicating that a return to regular, stable flight schedules will not be immediate. He stated that it 'will take some time to return to normal'. This suggests that travelers booked on IndiGo in the coming days should prepare for potential schedule changes and continue to monitor their flight status closely. The airline is likely working to reposition aircraft and crew to stabilize its network after this major operational breakdown.
The extensive cancellations by India's leading carrier have caused significant ripple effects across the country's aviation sector, leaving passengers stranded and seeking alternatives. The incident highlights the vulnerabilities in airline operations and the cascading impact such large-scale disruptions can have on national travel.
