The ongoing operational turmoil at IndiGo, India’s largest domestic airline, has extended into the weekend, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and triggering chaos at major airports in Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. As of Saturday morning, a total of 86 flights were cancelled across Delhi and Mumbai, while Hyderabad witnessed 66 flight cancellations, underscoring the continuing impact of the airline’s inability to comply with newly enforced crew duty-time rules.

At Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, 37 departure and 49 arrival flights were cancelled, while Hyderabad saw 43 departures and 23 arrivals affected. The widespread cancellations are part of a larger crisis that has unfolded over the past week, during which IndiGo has cancelled approximately 1,600 flights nationwide since Tuesday. The airline, which commands around 60% of India’s domestic aviation market, has struggled to cope with the sudden enforcement of Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), regulations designed to ensure pilot rest and prevent fatigue.

The chaos reached a peak on Friday, when IndiGo cancelled over 1,000 flights in a single day, triggering scenes of frustration and anger across airports. Social media platforms were flooded with videos of passengers raising slogans against the airline, highlighting the growing public discontent. Airports such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad were particularly affected, with thousands of passengers left searching for updates, rescheduled flights, or alternative travel arrangements.

While the immediate crisis has captured widespread attention, sources indicate that the situation had been building over November, during which IndiGo cancelled, on average, more than 25 flights per day due to its inability to comply with evolving operational norms. The sudden spike in cancellations in early December has thrown the airline’s operations into disarray, forcing both passengers and regulatory authorities to scramble for solutions.

CEO acknowledges systemic reboot

In a video message addressing the crisis, IndiGo’s Chief Executive Officer Pieter Elbers admitted that the measures implemented over the previous days were insufficient to stabilize operations. “Earlier measures of the last few days have proven not to be enough. So we decided today for a reboot of all our systems and schedules, resulting in the highest number of cancellations so far, but imperative for progressive improvements starting tomorrow onwards,” Elbers said. He indicated that the airline expects the number of cancellations to fall below 1,000 on Saturday, signaling a gradual effort to regain operational stability.

Regulatory relaxations

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has stepped in to assist IndiGo in managing the crisis. On Friday, the regulator exempted IndiGo’s Airbus A320 fleet from certain rules concerning pilot duty hours at night, following representations from the airline citing “severe operational disruptions, including massive flight cancellations/delays and consequential passenger inconvenience.” DGCA also allowed IndiGo to recall pilots temporarily assigned elsewhere for flying duties and withdrew a rule that prevented airlines from counting pilot leave as part of weekly rest to meet FDTL norms.

These exemptions were implemented to provide IndiGo with flexibility in roster management and enable the airline to gradually restore its schedule. However, the Airline Pilots Association of India, which represents over 6,000 pilots, expressed “profound concern” over what it termed “selective dispensations” to IndiGo. The association warned that the exemptions “gravely compromised the safety of the flying public” and undermined the spirit of the Flight Duty Time Limitations. The DGCA, in response, issued an appeal to all pilot associations to extend full cooperation during the period of high demand, which coincides with winter holidays and the marriage season.

Surge in airfares

The disruptions have had a dramatic effect on airfares across the country. Round-trip tickets on major domestic routes surged to as much as ten times the normal rate as passengers scrambled for limited seats on alternative carriers. On Friday, fares for Delhi-Mumbai return journeys soared to ₹93,000, while Delhi-Bengaluru tickets reached ₹92,000, Kolkata ₹94,000, and Chennai ₹80,000. These rates are starkly higher than the typical same-day economy fares of ₹20,000–₹25,000, with last-minute bookings under normal circumstances rarely exceeding ₹30,000. The sudden spike forced many passengers to either pay inflated rates or postpone travel altogether.

Passengers reported widespread inconvenience, ranging from missed connecting flights and lost luggage to the difficulty of arranging accommodation or alternative transport. Many were left stranded for hours at airports, navigating long queues at counters and scrambling for information about rescheduled flights. The disruptions highlighted systemic vulnerabilities in IndiGo’s operational planning and the challenges airlines face in implementing regulatory changes on short notice.

Impact on connecting flights and passengers

The cancellations have had cascading effects on passengers with connecting flights. Many travellers who had planned seamless journeys across multiple destinations found themselves stranded mid-route, forced to navigate alternate transport arrangements or endure prolonged waits at airports. Reports from Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad describe passengers scrambling to secure last-minute tickets on rival carriers, while some families were forced to abandon travel plans entirely due to unavailability or exorbitant pricing.

The scenario has been particularly challenging for business travellers and families attempting to reach destinations for critical events such as weddings, official meetings, and holidays. Social media posts have highlighted individual stories of frustration, illustrating how the operational chaos has disrupted personal and professional plans across the country.

Broader industry implications

IndiGo’s crisis has exposed the fragility of India’s domestic aviation sector in the face of sudden regulatory changes. Although the FDTL rules are designed to enhance safety by ensuring adequate pilot rest, the enforcement has revealed gaps in contingency planning and operational preparedness within airlines. Analysts suggest that this episode serves as a wake-up call for the industry to strengthen scheduling practices, communication with passengers, and rapid response mechanisms for large-scale disruptions.

Experts also note that the DGCA’s temporary relaxations, while necessary to mitigate immediate passenger inconvenience, must be balanced with safety considerations. Pilot associations’ concerns about selective exemptions highlight the tension between operational flexibility and regulatory compliance, underscoring the complexity of managing an airline during peak demand periods.

Looking ahead

While IndiGo has promised to gradually restore operations, the immediate fallout continues to affect passengers and airports across India. The airline’s plans to reduce cancellations below 1,000 on Saturday and normalize schedules by mid-December indicate a phased recovery, but many travellers remain cautious about relying on IndiGo until stability is restored. Meanwhile, alternative modes of transport, such as Indian Railways, have stepped in to accommodate displaced passengers, expanding train services and adding extra coaches to handle the surge in travel demand.

For passengers, the crisis is a reminder of the unpredictability inherent in air travel, particularly during periods of regulatory change or peak travel seasons. The combination of operational disruptions, soaring fares, and logistical challenges has created a uniquely stressful environment, with millions of travellers navigating the consequences in real-time.

As IndiGo works to regain operational equilibrium, the aviation industry and regulators face the task of ensuring safety, restoring public confidence, and preventing similar disruptions in the future. Meanwhile, passengers continue to adapt to the rapidly evolving situation, weighing options between rescheduled flights, alternate carriers, and long-distance rail travel.