India's largest airline, IndiGo, plunged into its most severe operational crisis yet on Friday, December 5, 2025, cancelling over a thousand flights nationwide. The unprecedented disruptions, part of what the airline termed an emergency "system reboot," left major airports like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad in chaos, with thousands of passengers stranded.
Emergency Reset Triggers Nationwide Gridlock
The day witnessed the highest number of cancellations in the carrier's history as it undertook drastic measures to stabilize operations after four consecutive days of mounting disruptions. IndiGo CEO Peter Elbers confirmed the cancellation of more than 1000 flights on December 5 alone. The airline, which typically operates around 2,300 daily flights with a fleet exceeding 400 aircraft, saw its on-time performance plummet.
In a statement, IndiGo apologized for the turmoil but cautioned passengers that the situation "will not be resolved overnight." To ease severe airport congestion, the airline enforced proactive, short-term cancellations. As part of this reset, all IndiGo departures from Delhi were suspended until midnight, and from Chennai until 6 PM on Friday.
City-Wise Breakdown: The Worst-Hit Airports
The impact was felt acutely across the country's busiest aviation hubs. Here is a detailed look at the airports that faced the brunt of the cancellations:
Delhi: The national capital emerged as the biggest flashpoint. All 235 scheduled IndiGo departures from Delhi were cancelled for the entire day, leading to massive queues, crowded terminals, and widespread frustration among stranded travelers.
Mumbai: The financial hub saw 104 IndiGo flights cancelled, significantly contributing to the nationwide gridlock. Passengers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport reported extensive delays and a lack of clear communication regarding rebooking or refunds.
Bengaluru: Kempegowda International Airport logged 102 cancellations. The scene turned tense as angry crowds broke into slogans of "Down with IndiGo," with ground staff struggling to manage the escalating passenger fury.
Hyderabad: Rajiv Gandhi International Airport faced 92 flight cancellations. This came after two consecutive days of large-scale disruptions, compounded by poor communication from the airline, resulting in severe terminal congestion.
Gujarat: Airports across the state collectively witnessed over 100 cancellations. Ahmedabad was the most affected with 86 cancelled flights, followed by Vadodara, Surat, and Rajkot. Terminals were packed with irate passengers demanding immediate answers and alternatives.
Other Major Disruptions: The crisis extended to several other cities. Goa's Dabolim airport reported 31 cancellations by midday, with numbers expected to rise during the peak tourism season. Pune registered 32 cancellations and one diversion. In North India, Jammu & Kashmir saw over 40 combined cancellations from Srinagar and Jammu airports, sparking protests. Dehradun had all its 13 scheduled IndiGo flights cancelled, leaving nearly 200 passengers with no immediate travel options.
Long Road to Normalcy
The airline's decision for a full-scale operational reset indicates deep-seated systemic issues that are expected to affect schedules for several more days. The cascading effect of grounding a significant portion of its fleet has not only impacted IndiGo's passengers but also caused congestion at parking bays, slowing operations for other carriers at affected airports.
This episode marks a significant dent in the reputation of an airline known for its market dominance and punctuality. As the airline works to reboot its systems, the immediate focus remains on clearing the backlog of stranded passengers and restoring network stability, a process that officials admit will be gradual and painful for the traveling public.
