India’s largest airline, IndiGo, has been hit by major operational disruptions over the past three days, resulting in the cancellation of more than 600 flights and widespread chaos at airports across the country. On Thursday alone, over 400 flights were cancelled, following significant disruptions on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The airline informed aviation regulators that the crisis stemmed from “misjudgment and planning gaps,” which have left tens of thousands of passengers stranded.
Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai Airports Face Disruption
According to reports, more than 550 domestic and international flights were cancelled. Major airports faced severe disruption, with Bengaluru reporting 99 cancellations, Hyderabad 79, Delhi around 150, and Mumbai 118. This followed at least 150 cancellations on Wednesday and a similar scale of disruption on Tuesday.
DGCA teams inspecting Terminal 1 at Delhi Airport noted that IndiGo had “inadequate” passenger-handling staff, which contributed to crowding and passenger distress.
IndiGo’s On-Time Performance Plummets, Issues Apology
The airline, known for high punctuality, recorded an on-time performance of just 19.7% on Wednesday, a sharp drop from 35% on Tuesday. The operational turmoil has prompted the airline to issue a second apology in as many days.
“IndiGo teams are working diligently and making all efforts with the support of MOCA, DGCA, BCAS, AAI and airport operators to reduce the cascading impact of these delays and restore normalcy,” the airline said in a statement.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu reviewed the situation with officials from his ministry and IndiGo.
IndiGo Request for Regulatory Relief
Amid the ongoing disruptions, IndiGo has requested aviation regulators for relief from rules limiting pilot duty hours at night. The airline has indicated that full operational stability is expected only by February 10, 2026.
It also cautioned that further cancellations could occur over the next two to three days as part of schedule stabilization efforts, with flight reductions expected to begin from December 8.
“The disruptions have arisen primarily from misjudgment and planning gaps in implementing Phase 2 of the (Flight Duty Time Limitations), with the airline accepting that the actual crew requirement exceeded their anticipation,” the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a statement on Thursday following a briefing from IndiGo representatives.
IndiGo Passengers Impacted
Thousands of travelers continued to face inconvenience on Thursday, marking the third consecutive day of flight cancellations and delays. The airline’s failure to adjust roster planning in line with new government regulations has exacerbated the crisis.
IndiGo has assured the DGCA that its operations will be fully restored by February 10, even as the regulator evaluates the airline’s request for temporary relaxation of duty hour provisions for pilots.
“The disruptions have arisen primarily from misjudgment and planning gaps in implementing Phase 2 of the Flight Duty Time Limitations, with the airline accepting that the actual crew requirement exceeded their anticipation,” DGCA said in a statement.
Also Read: IndiGo Flight Cancellations: Airline Issues Big Statement, Says Normal Ops To Resume By This Date
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
