Severe disruptions continued at Kempegowda International Airport on Friday, as IndiGo Airlines cancelled at least 102 flights, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and causing widespread travel chaos across the country. The cancellations comprised 52 arrivals and 50 departures, according to airport authorities, and represent a continuation of the operational turmoil that has plagued India’s largest airline over the past week.

The ongoing disruption comes just days before IndiGo is scheduled to scale back its flight schedule from December 8, a move the airline has warned will be accompanied by further delays and cancellations over the next two to three days. This operational upheaval has affected not only domestic travel but also the personal and professional commitments of passengers, with reports emerging of significant inconvenience, financial strain, and emotional distress.

Unprecedented Chaos at Bengaluru Airport

Passengers travelling through Bengaluru faced one of the most severe impacts, as the city became a hub for cascading flight cancellations. Travelers bound for major cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Pune, were left grappling with disrupted itineraries, missed connections, and a lack of timely information from the airline.

Many passengers reported that they only learned of cancellations upon arriving at the airport. Shubha, a passenger stranded at Bengaluru airport, described the situation on X, calling it “like a hostage situation,” with travelers waiting for over 24 hours without updates. Boarding passes were reportedly being issued for flights that were ultimately cancelled or indefinitely delayed, exacerbating confusion and frustration.

The disruptions had tangible consequences for life events and personal obligations. A newly married couple from Bengaluru, planning to attend their wedding reception in Hubballi, was forced to join the celebration virtually from Bhubaneswar, over 1,000 kilometers away. Their flight from Bhubaneswar to Bengaluru and onward to Hubballi was repeatedly delayed from the morning of December 2 before being cancelled in the early hours of December 3. Several relatives who were to travel via connecting flights through Mumbai also faced similar delays and cancellations. Anil Kumar Ksheerasagar, the father of the bride, recounted that “the flight kept getting delayed and at the last moment, at around 4 am, it got cancelled.”

Impact on Religious and Cultural Obligations

For many, the flight disruptions caused more than just inconvenience—they interfered with time-sensitive religious obligations. A family travelling to Haridwar for an asthi visarjan ceremony reported being notified of their flight cancellation only after nearly reaching the airport. Other passengers recounted comparable experiences, highlighting a systemic failure in communication. One traveler, arriving from Brazil, expressed frustration at the lack of prior notification, stating that she would have made alternate arrangements had she known in time.

Namita, another passenger, faced a particularly distressing situation. She was travelling with her father’s remains to Haridwar for final rites and found her Bengaluru–Delhi flight cancelled without warning. With connecting flights to Dehradun and onward to Haridwar, she was left scrambling to find alternative travel arrangements, only to discover that last-minute airfares had surged to as high as ₹60,000 per person. “The flight has been cancelled without any prior notification. Now they are saying that they have no flights for today. They are asking us to book a flight with other airlines. Flight tickets for other flights cost ₹60,000 per person, which I cannot afford… We are not able to reach Haridwar,” she said, expressing uncertainty about the refund process.

Passenger Protests and Terminal Tensions

The frustration of passengers escalated into open protests within terminals. Individuals described arriving at the airport to find that flights listed as “on time” online had, in reality, been cancelled. This lack of accurate real-time information intensified tensions, as passengers confronted airline and airport staff for answers. Many travelers reported that no proactive communication from IndiGo regarding cancellations had been issued via emails, SMS, or app notifications.

The airline’s operational issues are not confined to Bengaluru. Similar disruptions have been reported at other major hubs including Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. Across India, passengers have expressed distress at missed appointments, disrupted ceremonies, and uncertain travel plans, as they struggle to navigate an airline grappling with systemic issues.

Causes of the Crisis

IndiGo has attributed the disruptions to “operational difficulties” and a combination of unforeseen challenges. These include minor technical glitches, changes in the winter flight schedule, and adverse weather conditions in certain regions. However, aviation insiders and regulators have largely pointed to the implementation of Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) as a major contributing factor. Introduced by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in January 2024, these rules regulate the duty hours of pilots and cabin crew to prevent fatigue and ensure safety. The rules had not been strictly enforced until now, and experts suggest that IndiGo’s apparent mismanagement in implementing FDTL protocols contributed significantly to the scale of cancellations.

IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers acknowledged the disruptions in a video statement, apologizing to passengers for the inconvenience and promising that operations would gradually return to normal between December 10 and December 15. He emphasized that the airline is working “to reinstate regular operations in alignment with the Ministry and DGCA” and to minimize the ongoing impact on passengers.

Government Response

The civil aviation sector regulator, the DGCA, has stressed the importance of airlines adhering to safety regulations while simultaneously urging timely communication with passengers. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has ordered a high-level inquiry into the disruptions, promising that “accountability will be fixed” and measures implemented to prevent similar incidents in the future. Following the crisis, the minister also placed the FDTL orders issued by the DGCA in abeyance with immediate effect, providing temporary relief to IndiGo and other carriers affected by the new regulations.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has reiterated the importance of passengers checking flight status before traveling to airports. IndiGo passengers are advised to verify booking details through the official website or the airline’s mobile application and to seek assistance with rebooking or refunds as necessary. The airline has also announced a full waiver of cancellation and rescheduling charges for bookings made between December 5 and December 15, 2025, in an effort to mitigate passenger grievances.

Widespread Consequences

The cumulative effect of flight cancellations has been severe. Business travelers have missed meetings, families have been unable to attend weddings and religious ceremonies, and tourists have faced disrupted itineraries. In addition, the financial burden on passengers forced to rebook flights at short notice has been significant, with fares skyrocketing in the wake of reduced availability. Airlines offering alternative routes have capitalized on the sudden spike in demand, further complicating travel plans for stranded passengers.

Passengers’ frustrations have also highlighted systemic gaps in communication and crisis management. While some travelers were able to secure refunds or alternative flights, many reported inconsistent information from airline staff, unclear timelines for service resumption, and delays in compensation. Social media platforms have seen widespread posts from aggrieved passengers seeking redress, with many calling on the airline and government authorities to intervene immediately.

Looking Ahead

IndiGo’s operational challenges underscore the fragile balance between airline safety protocols and passenger convenience. While compliance with FDTL rules is crucial for aviation safety, the scale of disruption illustrates the critical need for effective planning, robust communication systems, and contingency measures. The airline’s phased schedule reduction beginning December 8 is expected to temporarily relieve operational pressure, but authorities and passengers alike remain wary of continued cancellations and delays over the coming days.

As the situation unfolds, stakeholders including airport authorities, regulators, and IndiGo management are under scrutiny to restore normalcy. The coming week will be a crucial period for assessing the airline’s ability to recover from the operational crisis, maintain compliance with regulatory standards, and regain passenger confidence. Meanwhile, passengers affected by cancellations continue to face logistical, emotional, and financial challenges, highlighting the human cost of large-scale operational disruptions in India’s aviation sector.