Passengers flying out of Guwahati faced major disruptions for the fourth consecutive day as IndiGo cancelled twenty outbound flights on Sunday, December 7. This marks a worsening situation from the seventeen cancellations recorded the previous day, Saturday. Despite the airline's claims of nationwide operational improvements, normalcy at the Northeast's busiest airport is not expected before December 10.
Pilot Shortage at the Core of the Crisis
Official sources within IndiGo have revealed to The Times of India that the primary cause for the mass cancellations is not technical snags but a severe shortage of pilots. The problem has intensified following a regulatory change that increased the mandatory weekly rest period for pilots from 36 to 48 hours. An airline official stated that the shortage of captains is acute and cannot be resolved immediately, leading to the prolonged disruption.
The airline's strategy is now focused on planning cancellations a day in advance to minimize chaos at the airport. This approach has shown some effect, as the severe passenger distress witnessed on December 4 and 5 has eased in the past 24 hours. During those initial days, travelers were issued boarding passes only to later find their flights had been cancelled, leading to widespread anger and confusion.
Affected Routes and Escalating Disruption
The flight cancellations have severely impacted connectivity from Guwahati to major cities across India. The most affected destinations include:
- Delhi and Mumbai
- Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai
- Jaipur and Ahmedabad
- Northeastern capitals like Agartala, Imphal, Aizawl, and Dibrugarh
The crisis has followed an escalating pattern: it began with seven cancellations on December 4, skyrocketed to 26 on December 5, reduced to 17 on December 6, and climbed again to 20 on December 7. This persistent instability has forced the rescheduling of several official events in the region and has critically impacted passengers traveling for medical treatment.
Waivers and the Path Forward
In response to the crisis, IndiGo has announced a full waiver on cancellation and rescheduling fees for all tickets booked for travel until December 15. This measure is intended to provide some relief to inconvenienced passengers.
While IndiGo's national operations showed fewer cancellations on Sunday, the Guwahati hub remains an outlier, grappling with a localized but severe resource crunch. The airline remains hopeful that the situation will stabilize by December 10 as internal efforts to address the pilot shortage continue. For now, travelers are advised to confirm their flight status well in advance and utilize the offered waivers for flexible rebooking.
