IndiGo, India's largest airline, was forced to cancel a significant number of flights across the country on Thursday, December 18, 2025, as dense fog and severely reduced visibility disrupted winter operations. The airline has been grappling with challenging weather conditions throughout the month, leading to widespread schedule changes.
Travel Advisory and Cancelled Flights
In a late-night update on its official X handle, IndiGo issued a travel advisory specifically highlighting the situation in Chandigarh. The airline stated, "Low visibility and fog over #Chandigarh has impacted flight schedules. We're keeping a close watch on the weather and doing our best to get you where you need to be, safely and smoothly." This was followed by another advisory that emphasized safety precautions due to the drastic reduction in visibility.
The airline published a list of confirmed cancellations for December 18 on its official flight cancellations page. The affected flights primarily involved routes to and from Chandigarh (IXC), impacting connectivity with major cities like Jaipur, Kolkata, Amritsar, Chennai, Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi, and Varanasi.
The cancelled IndiGo flights included:
- 6E 7718 from Jaipur (JAI) to Chandigarh (IXC)
- 6E 7719 from Chandigarh (IXC) to Jaipur (JAI)
- 6E 201 from Kolkata (CCU) to Amritsar (ATQ)
- 6E 6326 from Chennai (MAA) to Kolkata (CCU)
- 6E 6634 from Chandigarh (IXC) to Bengaluru (BLR)
- 6E 681 from Chandigarh (IXC) to Pune (PNQ)
- 6E 2315 from Chandigarh (IXC) to Delhi (DEL)
- 6E 6041 from Chandigarh (IXC) to Kolkata (CCU)
- 6E 987 from Chennai (MAA) to Kolkata (CCU)
- 6E 242 from Pune (PNQ) to Chandigarh (IXC)
- 6E 822 from Kolkata (CCU) to Varanasi (VNS)
Passenger Guidance and Operational Challenges
In its detailed advisory, IndiGo explained that the cancellations were a precautionary measure to prioritize passenger safety and minimize extended waits at airports. The airline acknowledged the inconvenience caused to travellers, especially during the busy festive period. They advised passengers to check the latest flight status on the IndiGo website or mobile app before heading to the airport and to allow extra travel time due to potentially slower road traffic.
For passengers on cancelled flights, IndiGo directed them to its online portal (goindigo.in/plan-b.html) to conveniently rebook their journey or claim a full refund. The airline also highlighted its Live Flight Status Tracker, where travellers can get real-time updates by entering their PNR or flight number.
This wave of cancellations on December 18 follows a pattern of disruptions earlier in the week, with the airline cancelling over 170 flights on Monday, nearly 60 on Tuesday, and more than 50 on Wednesday. December is a peak travel month due to Christmas and New Year holidays, with IndiGo operating over 2,100 daily flights. However, it is also the time when fog and haze, particularly in North India, create significant operational hurdles.
Looking Ahead: Safety First During Winter
Despite the ongoing challenges, IndiGo has reiterated that passenger safety remains its foremost concern. The airline has systems in place to manage such weather-related disruptions and assist affected travellers. They have requested passengers to be prepared for potential delays and plan accordingly throughout the winter months, when morning fog frequently affects airport visibility across northern and central India. The airline's teams across all airports are working continuously to manage operations as smoothly as possible and keep passengers informed as the weather situation evolves.
