Amid the ongoing nationwide disruption of IndiGo flights, SpiceJet has announced that it will operate 100 additional flights over the coming days to help stranded passengers and ease the pressure on India’s airports. The airline’s Chairman and Managing Director, Ajay Singh, described the IndiGo crisis as “extremely unfortunate” and acknowledged the severe inconvenience faced by travellers across the country.

Speaking to ANI, Singh emphasised that while IndiGo is working to resolve its operational issues, it is equally important to investigate the root causes of the disruptions to prevent similar incidents in the future. “What happened is extremely unfortunate, and it has caused a huge amount of inconvenience to passengers. I am sure the government is working really hard to make sure the problem is resolved at the earliest. We (SpiceJet) are attempting to help by running 100 additional flights over the next few days. It is important to find out what happened and why,” Singh said.

The airline chief stressed that lessons must be learned from the disruption to strengthen operational planning and avoid comparable issues going forward. “It is important to find out what happened and why it happened so that we have lessons for the future and ideas so that these kinds of incidents don’t happen again,” he added.

IndiGo has been struggling with severe operational challenges over the past few days, with daily cancellations ranging from 170 to 200 flights, far exceeding normal levels. The disruptions have affected travellers at major airports across India, with all IndiGo departures from Delhi Airport on Friday cancelled until midnight. Other airlines, however, continue to operate as scheduled, highlighting that the crisis is primarily confined to IndiGo’s operations.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) recently granted IndiGo temporary operational exemptions from certain Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) provisions for its A320 fleet until February 10, 2026. The DGCA has indicated that IndiGo has assured the regulator of restoring operational stability by that date. Meanwhile, passengers continue to face delays, cancellations, and overcrowded airports, underscoring the urgency of a comprehensive solution.

SpiceJet’s decision to add 100 extra flights is aimed at alleviating passenger hardship during this period of intense operational disruption. The airline’s move is expected to provide some relief to travellers struggling with cancelled or delayed IndiGo flights, particularly during the peak winter travel season.

Ajay Singh also welcomed the government’s decision to constitute a high-level committee to probe the IndiGo crisis, noting that understanding the cause of such disruptions is crucial for the aviation sector. The committee will examine operational lapses, technical issues, and crew rostering problems to ensure accountability and prevent similar incidents in the future.

With IndiGo’s operational issues persisting, SpiceJet’s proactive intervention highlights the role of other carriers in maintaining continuity of domestic air travel during periods of sector-wide disruption. By providing additional capacity, SpiceJet aims to reduce overcrowding, help stranded passengers reach their destinations, and maintain overall stability within the domestic aviation network.

The ongoing IndiGo disruption has triggered unprecedented challenges for passengers nationwide, including skyrocketing ticket prices for last-minute bookings, long queues at airports, and confusion over flight schedules. Against this backdrop, SpiceJet’s added flights represent an important measure to support travellers and demonstrate operational agility in response to sectoral crises.

In conclusion, while IndiGo works to restore normal operations with DGCA support, SpiceJet’s initiative to operate 100 additional flights underscores the collaborative effort required within the aviation industry to safeguard passenger interests and ensure continuity of domestic air travel during times of disruption. The coming days will be critical in observing whether IndiGo can stabilize its operations and whether additional measures by other airlines will sufficiently mitigate passenger hardships.