IndiGo crisis: Delhi HC to hear urgent petition today as airline crawls back | Top points

By Admin

10 Dec, 2025

The IndiGo crisis has escalated into one of the most disruptive events in India’s aviation sector this year. Since December 2, the airline has cancelled hundreds of flights daily, triggering massive chaos across major airports. The crisis has now reached the doors of both the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court, with passengers demanding accountability and swift resolution.

Below is a detailed overview of the unfolding situation and the top developments.

Widespread Disruptions Across India

IndiGo has been facing significant operational setbacks, resulting in the cancellation of more than 5,000 flights since December 2. Cities such as Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai have been hit the hardest. On Tuesday alone, the airline reportedly cancelled over 400 flights, with Delhi topping the list at 152 cancellations, followed by Bengaluru at 121.

The disruptions have caused widespread inconvenience, leaving lakhs of passengers stranded at airports and prompting outrage on social media.

Regulatory Changes Likely Behind the Crisis

While IndiGo has cited various operational challenges, aviation insiders point to new pilot duty time regulations as the primary reason behind the mass cancellations. These regulatory changes may have impacted crew scheduling and availability, creating gaps in flight operations.

As a result, the airline has faced criticism from both passengers and government authorities for failing to manage the transition smoothly.

Supreme Court Calls Situation “Serious”, but No Intervention

The matter echoed in the Supreme Court, with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant acknowledging the seriousness of the situation. He noted that “lakhs of people are stranded at airports”, but the apex court declined an urgent hearing, stating that the Centre had already taken necessary steps to address the issue.

Delhi High Court to Hear Plea on December 10

A petition requesting the Centre to offer support and refunds to affected passengers was mentioned before the Delhi High Court.

A bench led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela agreed to hear the matter on December 10. The plea highlights the widespread distress among passengers and seeks judicial direction for relief measures.

Government Ensures Refunds and Baggage Return

Civil aviation secretary Samir Kumar Sinha stated that the government has actively coordinated with IndiGo to address the fallout. He confirmed that:

• 100% refunds for cancelled PNRs have been processed
  
  

• 90% of the stranded baggage has already been located and dispatched
  
  

• Remaining baggage is expected to reach passengers within 24 hours
  
  

This assurance comes as the airline faced backlash over lost baggage and delayed refunds during the crisis.

Ministry Directs IndiGo to Cut Operations by 10%

In a decisive move, the civil aviation ministry observed that IndiGo was unable to operate its winter and summer schedules effectively. Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu announced a directive asking IndiGo to reduce its operations by 10% across all sectors.

The ministry believes that cutting down the total number of flights will help stabilize operations and reduce further cancellations. IndiGo has been ordered to submit a revised flight schedule by 5 PM on December 10.

Cities Most Affected by Cancellations

The impact has been widespread, with major airports witnessing heavy disruptions. The cancellations reported on Tuesday include:

• Delhi – 152 flights
  
  

• Bengaluru – 121 flights
  
  

• Hyderabad – 58 flights
  
  

• Chennai – 41 flights
  
  

• Ahmedabad – 16 flights
  
  

• Thiruvananthapuram – 4 flights
  
  

• Mumbai – 3 flights
  
  

As nationwide cancellations approach nearly 5,000 flights, passengers continue to demand transparency and better communication from the airline.

What’s Next for IndiGo?

With the crisis now under judicial, ministerial, and public scrutiny, IndiGo faces the urgent task of rebuilding trust. The outcome of the Delhi High Court hearing, along with the revised flight schedule, will play a crucial role in stabilizing operations in the coming days.

For now, the airline is “crawling back” to normalcy, but the ripple effects of the crisis may continue to disrupt travel for several more days.