Indigo cancelled over 1,000 flights in three days, causing severe inconvenience to passengers due to technical and crew shortages. DGCA has instructed the airline to make improvements, with operations expected to normalize by February 10.
Indigo Flights Cancelled: India's largest airline, Indigo, has recently faced an operational crisis. On Friday, the airline cancelled over 400 flights, and hundreds of flights were delayed at various airports. This caused significant distress to passengers. According to sources, more than 220 flights were cancelled at Delhi Airport, while over 100 flights were affected at Bengaluru Airport. Additionally, more than 90 flights were cancelled at Hyderabad Airport.
The main reasons cited for this crisis are Indigo's cabin crew shortage and technical issues. The Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have been monitoring this situation for several days. The airline has informed the DGCA that flight operations are expected to stabilize completely by February 10, 2026.
Operational Challenges at Airports
At Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala, four Indigo flights were cancelled, including two inbound and two outbound. Additionally, three inbound and three outbound flights experienced delays. Indigo also faced operational difficulties at Delhi's IGI Airport and major airports in Maharashtra like Pune and Mumbai. The airline's flights were also affected at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad.
Passengers are having to spend between INR 20,000 and INR 30,000 to book alternative flights due to delays and cancellations. One passenger reported that after their flight from Ahmedabad to Varanasi was cancelled, they were stranded at the airport for approximately 10-12 hours without food or water. They faced further trouble as tickets on other airlines cost double the price.
Over 1,000 Flights Cancelled in Three Days
Indigo cancelled over 550 flights on Thursday, marking the highest number of cancellations in a single day in the airline's history. With more than 400 flights cancelled on Friday, the total number of cancellations over three days has exceeded 1,000. This has severely impacted passengers' travel plans.
The DGCA has urged the airline to promptly improve the situation, and some temporary exemptions under FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limit) regulations have been requested. The airline has assured that operations will return to a completely stable and normal state by February 10, 2026.
Indigo Indicates Reduction in Flights
The airline stated that the number of daily flights would be reduced to some extent from December 8 to manage operational issues. The DGCA has warned the airline not to exploit this situation by attempting to increase ticket prices.
Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has instructed airports to provide all possible assistance to stranded passengers. The airline has also stated that corrective measures are being taken to minimize passenger inconvenience while maintaining safety margins.
Airline's Response
At Delhi Airport on Friday, 225 Indigo flights were cancelled. This caused anger and frustration among passengers. Many reported that being stranded at the airport for long periods meant they had no access to rest or catering facilities.
Indigo states that the operational disruptions are due to crew shortages and technical issues. The airline has assured the DGCA that corrective measures are being implemented, and flight operations will normalize in the coming days.
