India’s airports have been plunged into chaos over the past several days as IndiGo’s operational disruptions continue unabated, leaving thousands of travellers stranded and anxious. The crisis has affected passengers across the country—from families travelling with elderly and differently-abled members to international tourists with tight flight schedules—turning routine travel into a nightmare.

For many, the disruptions have had deeply personal and urgent consequences. In Bhubaneswar, Odisha, the situation quickly escalated into frustration as passengers struggled to obtain basic support from the airline. One traveller described the difficulties to ANI, saying, “We are travelling with a differently-abled child and a senior citizen… The customer care number of IndiGo is not working. The prices of other flight tickets have increased. If tickets have to be cancelled, they are showing non-refundable until these people say it is their mistake.”

Stranded with Ashes: A Personal Tragedy

In Bengaluru, Namita found herself stranded at Kempegowda International Airport while attempting to travel for her father’s final rites. Carrying her father’s “Asthi” (mortal remains post-cremation), she faced an unprecedented dilemma.

“I have to reach Delhi from Bengaluru to then catch a flight to Dehradun to reach Haridwar. The ‘Asthi Visarjan’ must be done tomorrow. But my flight was cancelled without any prior notification. Now they are saying that they have no flights today,” Namita told ANI.

She further detailed the financial strain caused by the disruption: “They are asking us to book flights with other airlines. Tickets for these flights cost ₹60,000 per person, which I cannot afford. We are unable to reach Haridwar. All our money is wasted, and a partial refund will be received only after a week. We have no idea how much will be deducted. I request the government to intervene and help us reach Haridwar because my father’s asthi visarjan in the Ganga is extremely urgent.”

The personal impact of these cancellations highlights the human cost of IndiGo’s operational crisis, particularly during a period when winter travel, weddings, and family gatherings are at their peak.

Confusion and Miscommunication

The disruption has been compounded by inconsistent communication and mismanagement. In Hyderabad, Telangana, a passenger described an unprecedented situation:

“I reached the airport around 5 am and went to the IndiGo counter. They told me my flight was cancelled. When I showed my boarding pass, they confirmed it, only for me to later find that the flight had not been cancelled. I don’t know if there is a deliberate overbooking strategy or some internal mismanagement, but I’ve never experienced such confusion in my life. Now I am back in the airport, standing in a long queue, trying to figure out what is happening.”

Similar accounts emerged from Goa, where passengers said they were left to fend for themselves without information or support from the airline. One traveller lamented: “We were not informed that our flight was being cancelled. We have been awake since 5 am and have been waiting for hours. There is no accommodation or food provided. Tomorrow they say there will be a flight, but we have a wedding to attend. It’s a total mess, and we are extremely disappointed with IndiGo.”

In Chennai, passengers reported high fares for alternate flights and a lack of basic support. “My flight is cancelled, and the fare for other flights is too high. The airline is not even providing food or accommodation,” said one traveller stranded at Chennai Airport.

International Travellers in Limbo

The disruption has also affected international travellers, many of whom rely on timely domestic connections to catch flights abroad. At Siliguri in West Bengal, a passenger from Israel described the difficulty of being stranded far from their international departure point.

“I am from Tel Aviv. We started from Kolkata and came here for five days. Now we have to get back to Kolkata because our flight to Israel is from there. I don’t know why the flight was cancelled. Our next flight is in four hours, and we don’t know if we will get another ticket. We want a new flight and our money back. We are not familiar with this region and need urgent assistance,” the traveller told ANI.

This account illustrates how the disruptions extend beyond India’s domestic travel system, affecting international connections and highlighting the broader consequences of operational mismanagement by one of the country’s largest airlines.

Causes of the IndiGo Crisis

IndiGo, India’s largest carrier by market share, has attributed the disruptions to operational challenges including staff shortages, technical glitches, and weather-related delays. However, experts point to the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) introduced earlier this year as a major factor. These new norms, aimed at reducing pilot fatigue, have significantly restricted the number of hours pilots can operate, particularly during night operations, leading to cascading cancellations across the network.

The airline has been seeking temporary operational exemptions from the FDTL provisions for its A320 fleet, extending up to February 10, 2026, in an attempt to stabilize schedules. Despite these measures, IndiGo has been witnessing 170-200 cancellations per day, leaving airports nationwide in disarray.

Widespread Impact Across India

The chaos is most visible at major airport hubs, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Goa, Bhubaneswar, and smaller regional airports. Passengers report long queues, limited access to customer service, and little to no guidance on alternate travel arrangements. Many are forced to purchase last-minute tickets from other carriers at exorbitant rates, further exacerbating frustration.

The disruption coincides with the peak travel season, marked by weddings, family visits, festive travel, and religious pilgrimages. As a result, the consequences are amplified—flights missed, ceremonial and family events delayed, and international connections jeopardized.

The Human Toll

Beyond inconvenience, the ongoing cancellations underscore the emotional and logistical toll on travellers. Families with elderly members or differently-abled individuals face additional stress, while passengers attending critical life events—funerals, weddings, or religious ceremonies—are experiencing profound distress.

Namita’s story of carrying her father’s ashes to Haridwar is a particularly stark reminder of how airline disruptions can affect the most sensitive and urgent aspects of human life. Similarly, stranded international travellers face uncertainty far from home, navigating unfamiliar cities without timely support.

Calls for Government Intervention

The scale of the disruption has prompted public appeals for intervention. Stranded passengers have urged government authorities to step in, facilitate travel where feasible, and ensure that airlines provide adequate compensation, accommodation, and food support.

Aviation regulators, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), have already been involved, monitoring IndiGo’s operational adjustments and temporary exemptions to mitigate further disruptions. However, passengers argue that more proactive measures are needed to prevent the ongoing crisis from escalating further.

Looking Ahead

While IndiGo has promised corrective measures and operational stabilisation by early 2026, the immediate priority remains passenger welfare. Airports across the country continue to grapple with long queues, missed flights, and distressed travellers, highlighting the urgent need for better communication, contingency planning, and customer support.

For passengers like Namita and families across India, the uncertainty has real-life consequences. Whether it’s reaching a destination in time for a wedding, final rites, or catching an international connection, the ongoing disruptions are not merely inconvenient—they are deeply impactful, often emotionally devastating, and financially burdensome.

As IndiGo works to restore its network, passengers remain caught in a state of limbo, with hopes pinned on clearer communication, timely refunds, and the eventual resumption of normal flight operations. For now, airports across India are a testament to the profound ripple effects of airline operational failures in a country where air travel is increasingly central to personal, cultural, and business life.

---