Chennai Airport on Friday announced the cancellation of several IndiGo flights scheduled to depart until 6 pm, attributing the disruptions to operational reasons. The announcement adds to a growing wave of flight cancellations that have affected passengers across India, highlighting the strain on the nation’s largest airline and the wider civil aviation sector.

In an official statement, Chennai Airport said that IndiGo had requested the departure gates to hold passengers, as many travellers were still in the check-in and boarding areas at the time of the disruption. “Passengers are informed that, as communicated by IndiGo @IndiGo6E, flights to Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Hyderabad with departures scheduled up to 1800 hours have been cancelled due to operational reasons,” the airport said. The statement further added that “most of the base flight passengers are still in the check-in and boarding area,” underscoring the scale of disruption at the airport.

The cancellations in Chennai come amid widespread operational failures across IndiGo’s network, which have affected flights from multiple cities including Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Patna. Earlier on Friday, Delhi Airport announced that all IndiGo domestic flights departing from the national capital were cancelled until midnight, while operations for other airlines continued as scheduled. “Our dedicated on-ground teams are working diligently with all partners to mitigate the disruption and ensure a comfortable passenger experience,” the airport said in a separate advisory.

Passengers have expressed significant frustration over the situation. Many were left stranded at airports for hours without clear communication or information about alternate travel arrangements. Some reported a lack of basic facilities such as food and water, adding to the stress caused by delays and cancellations. The disruptions have also affected those traveling for personal commitments, weddings, and critical work-related travel, intensifying public anger against the airline.

The root of the operational crisis lies in multiple factors. IndiGo has faced staff shortages, particularly among pilots, and the airline has struggled to comply with the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) regulations introduced earlier this year. These rules, designed to reduce fatigue among flight crew, sharply restrict the number of late-night and consecutive flying hours for pilots. IndiGo, which operates a high-frequency network with many early-morning and late-night flights, was particularly impacted.

To address the ongoing issues, IndiGo has sought temporary operational exemptions from specific FDTL provisionsfor its Airbus A320 fleet, valid until February 10, 2026, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The regulator noted that these exemptions were requested to reduce passenger inconvenience while maintaining safety margins. “IndiGo has assured DGCA that corrective actions are underway and that normalised and stable operations will be fully restored by February 10, 2026,” the statement added.

The airline has been experiencing a sharp rise in cancellations, with approximately 170–200 flights affected per day, significantly higher than usual. The disruptions have not only affected domestic travel but also caused ripple effects for connecting flights and international schedules. Many passengers have been forced to make last-minute arrangements, often at much higher fares, as alternate flights were limited due to the airline’s dominant share of the market on key routes.

The ongoing crisis has also sparked broader discussions on airline monopolies and the resilience of India’s civil aviation infrastructure. Opposition leaders and passenger groups have criticised the government for the lack of contingency planning, pointing out that IndiGo’s dominance on key domestic routes exacerbates the impact of operational disruptions. Experts have also raised concerns about the potential long-term implications of repeated regulatory relaxations, warning that compromising crew rest and fatigue rules could have safety ramifications if not carefully managed.

For passengers affected in Chennai, airport authorities and IndiGo staff have been assisting with alternate arrangements where possible, including rebooking on other flights, arranging accommodations, and providing support for onward travel. However, many travellers reported long queues and confusion at customer service counters, reflecting the challenges of managing disruptions at multiple major airports simultaneously.

The DGCA, while granting temporary operational flexibility to IndiGo, has called for cooperation from all pilots and airline staff to maintain stable and safe operations during this period. Officials have also highlighted that the ongoing holiday season, peak travel periods, and weather-related factors such as fog could further complicate scheduling, emphasizing the need for close coordination across the aviation sector.

As the airline works to stabilise its operations, passengers are advised to check flight status online before visiting the airport, plan for potential delays, and explore alternative routes if possible. While IndiGo has assured that normal operations will gradually resume, the coming days will be crucial in determining whether the airline can fully recover from one of its most significant operational challenges in recent years.

The Chennai cancellations serve as a reminder of the complex interplay between regulatory requirements, airline operations, and passenger expectations. With IndiGo controlling a large share of India’s domestic market, even temporary disruptions can have nationwide repercussions, affecting tens of thousands of passengers. How effectively the airline and regulators manage this crisis will not only impact public confidence but also set a precedent for managing operational challenges in India’s rapidly growing aviation sector.

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