New Delhi – IndiGo, India’s largest airline, continued to struggle with operational disruptions on Saturday, canceling 850 flights even after the government extended major relaxations to help stabilize the airline’s services. This comes after a week of unprecedented disruptions that saw over 1,600 flights canceled in the preceding four days, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and triggering widespread criticism of the airline’s crisis management.

In a statement released on Saturday, IndiGo acknowledged the ongoing challenges but said that flight cancellations had dropped below 850, marking a decrease compared to Friday’s disruptions. “We’re continuing to work towards reducing this number progressively over the next few days,” the airline said, emphasizing its focus on restoring operational stability across the network.

IndiGo’s Efforts to Restore Operations

The airline assured passengers that its teams were fully engaged in stabilizing schedules, reducing delays, and providing support to customers. IndiGo also stressed that refunds and compensation for affected passengers were being prioritized. To keep travelers informed, the airline urged customers to check the latest flight status online and through direct notifications at airports.

IndiGo’s statement added, “We are working closely with all airports and partners to ensure timely updates are provided to customers at terminals, on our website, and via direct notifications. For refund assistance, please visit our website.”

The airline also expressed gratitude to its employees and ground staff, recognizing their efforts in managing a highly complex operational situation. “IndiGo sincerely apologizes for the inconvenience caused to our customers and remain focused on restoring normalcy across our operations at the earliest,” the statement read.

CEO Comments on Operational Crisis

In a video statement, CEO Pieter Elbers acknowledged the severity of the disruptions. He said, “We have experienced severe operational disruptions for the past few days. The crisis continued to aggravate, with today, December 5th, being the most severely impacted day with the number of cancellations well over 1,000, or more than half of our daily flights.”

Elbers noted that earlier measures had not been sufficient to stabilize operations, and expressed hope that the support provided by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) through specific Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) implementation relief would help the airline recover.

“Going forward, in alignment with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA, we expect to improve every day. Given the size, scale, and complexity of our operations, it will take some time to return to a fully normal situation, which we anticipate between December 10 and 15,” Elbers added.

Government Intervention and Passenger Impact

The massive cancellation of flights over the past week prompted the government to step in to regulate domestic ticket fares, which had surged due to the sudden reduction in available flights. The civil aviation ministry described the fare hike as “unreasonable” and instructed IndiGo to prioritize refunds and waive rescheduling charges for affected passengers.

Passengers have faced long queues at airports, confusion over rescheduled flights, and uncertainty regarding baggage handling. Celebrities and high-profile travelers, including filmmaker Kiran Rao, publicly shared their frustration over being stranded for hours due to IndiGo’s operational failures, drawing widespread attention to the human impact of the crisis.

Gradual Recovery Expected

While IndiGo has reported a decline in cancellations from the peak of over 1,000 flights on Friday to 850 on Saturday, the airline warned that full normalization of operations may take up to 10 days. The recovery will involve careful crew management, schedule stabilization, and close coordination with airport authorities.

Industry experts have highlighted that the disruption underscores structural vulnerabilities in IndiGo’s operational planning, particularly regarding compliance with FDTL regulations and contingency planning for large-scale disruptions. The ongoing crisis may prompt closer scrutiny from regulators and possible policy changes aimed at preventing similar operational meltdowns in the future.

Looking Ahead

IndiGo’s management remains committed to restoring normal flight schedules while ensuring passenger support, refunds, and clear communication. Travelers are advised to remain vigilant about flight updates and plan travel accordingly.

The airline’s prolonged operational disruption, coupled with government intervention and ongoing passenger hardships, has spotlighted the challenges of managing one of India’s largest airline networks under sudden regulatory and logistical pressures. How effectively IndiGo navigates the next few days will be critical to restoring both operational efficiency and passenger confidence.