India’s largest domestic airline, IndiGo, is grappling with its worst-ever operational breakdown, having cancelled more than 4,500 flights over the past week. The disruptions, which entered their seventh consecutive day on Monday, have left passengers stranded across major airports, forced rebookings, and created widespread chaos at terminals nationwide.

Timeline of the IndiGo Flight Crisis

The crisis escalated rapidly as cancellations multiplied each day:

• Tuesday: Over 150 flights cancelled
• Wednesday: Nearly 200 flights cancelled; on-time performance dropped to 19.7%
• Thursday: 300+ cancellations with notable international flight disruptions
• Friday: Around 1,600 flights cancelled – the single worst day in operational history
• Saturday: About 850 flights cancelled
• Sunday: Approximately 650 cancellations
• Monday: Travel disruptions continued with over 300 cancellations reported from Delhi, Chennai, and Bengaluru alone

Airports Worst Affected

The largest operational setbacks were reported at Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. Monday saw:

• Bengaluru: 65 arrivals and 62 departures cancelled
• Delhi: 134 cancellations
• Chennai: 77 cancellations

Passengers faced overcrowded terminals, unclaimed baggage, and long lines as they scrambled to rebook flights or retrieve their luggage. At Delhi Terminal 1, for instance, unclaimed bags lined the arrival area, forcing passengers to sift through them.

Causes Behind IndiGo’s Collapse

The crisis stemmed from a combination of factors:

1. Pilot Shortages: IndiGo has long relied on a high-utilisation, night-heavy model that left little buffer for absences.
2. Software Advisories: Airbus A320 software updates triggered unexpected delays.
3. Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL): Newly enforced strict regulations limited pilot night operations and mandated longer rest periods, creating sudden downtime for hundreds of crew members.
4. Aggressive Schedule Expansion: Winter schedule additions since October 26 further strained staffing.

Pilot associations stated that IndiGo misjudged staffing needs, delayed recruitment, and left minimal operational buffers, despite being aware of the FDTL rules for two years. The airline’s red-eye-heavy operations were particularly vulnerable to disruptions caused by crew unavailability.

DGCA Steps In

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a show cause notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers, citing inadequate arrangements to handle new crew rostering rules. The regulator provided a one-day extension for the airline to respond. Additionally, DGCA temporarily relaxed rules disallowing substitution of leave for weekly rest to ease operational pressures.

Passenger Relief Measures

IndiGo has implemented several measures to support affected passengers:

• ₹610 crore in refunds processed
• Full waiver on cancellations and rescheduling for travel between December 5–15
• Thousands of hotel rooms and ground transport arranged across cities
• Food support within terminals
• Lounge access for senior citizens where available
• Recovery and delivery of over 3,000 pieces of baggage
• Additional customer support staff and AI-based assistance

Passengers were repeatedly advised not to visit airports if their flights had already been cancelled online, in an effort to reduce congestion.

Impact on Tourism and Travel Confidence

The crisis has heavily affected travel plans and tourism, particularly during the holiday season. With IndiGo and Air India effectively forming a duopoly in domestic travel, passengers have had few alternatives. Reports indicate that high-season bookings are collapsing, and many travelers have had to incur extra expenses for hotels and alternative travel arrangements. Some passengers facing medical or family emergencies described the situation as “beyond stressful.”

When Will Operations Normalize?

IndiGo anticipates stabilizing its operations by December 10, earlier than the initial projection of December 10–15. The airline has restored services to 137 of its 138 destinations. The Board Crisis Management Group meets daily to monitor recovery progress. CEO Pieter Elbers communicated internally that the airline is recovering “step by step,” though operational buffers remain thin, leaving potential for further delays.

The IndiGo crisis underscores the vulnerability of India’s aviation sector to staffing, regulatory, and operational challenges, highlighting the need for stronger contingency planning and more robust infrastructure to handle mass disruptions.

Passengers continue to wait anxiously for restored normalcy as IndiGo works to regain operational stability and passenger trust.