Turmoil at IndiGo deepens as over 4,500 flights scrapped in a week
DGCA pulls up the airline's CEO after widespread cancellations and crew-planning failures throw airports across India into disorder
Ongoing nationwide disruption
IndiGo has axed more than 4,500 domestic flights in just a week’s time, producing one of the biggest operational collapses this carrier ever faced. These continuous cancellations have resulted in extreme congestion at airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad. Thousands of passengers are still stranded, with many waiting for hours for clarity on alternative arrangements.
The root of this crisis has been a combination of problems. The carrier had been facing an acute shortage of pilots while adjusting to the updated Flight Duty Time Limitations issued by the DGCA. An expanded winter schedule and a software advisory affecting several of its Airbus A320 planes further restrict operations.
Regulatory action and airline response
Taking serious note of the chaos, DGCA sent a show-cause notice to IndiGo CEO, flagging the carrier’s failure to plan effectively for the revised duty-time rules. Trying to restore normality, IndiGo has begun processing large-scale refunds, providing hotels and transport to stranded fliers, and offering free rescheduling for travel upto December 15. The airline has also commenced returning misplaced baggage to passengers.
Despite claims from IndiGo that its network is slowly coming back to normal, with 137 out of 138 destinations operational, heavy crowding continues at the airports. Passengers have reported long queues, unhelpful information desks, and heaps of unclaimed luggage due to less than adequate staffing at terminals.
Huge repercussions on passengers and in the aviation sector
The disruptions have derailed holiday plans, business schedules and emergency travel for thousands of people. Many passengers have been forced to spend extra money on hotels or switch to more expensive last-minute travel options. The episode has also revived concerns about India’s heavy dependence on a single airline, raising questions about how such a lapse could affect the broader aviation ecosystem in the future.
