Over 350 IndiGo flights cancelled today; operations far from normal

By Admin

08 Dec, 2025

India’s largest airline, IndiGo, continued to grapple with unprecedented disruptions on Monday as operations remained far from normal for the seventh consecutive day. The nationwide air travel crisis described as one of the worst India has ever witnessed resulted in over 350 flight cancellations today alone, leaving thousands of passengers stranded or facing long delays.

Massive Disruptions Across Key Airports
Airports across the country reported widespread cancellations, with major metro hubs being hit the hardest.
At Delhi Airport, 134 IndiGo flights were cancelled   75 departures and 59 arrivals   triggering confusion for early morning travelers. The situation was equally challenging in Bengaluru, where 127 flights were grounded, followed by Chennai with 71 cancellations.
Other airports also saw disruptions: Ahmedabad (20 cancellations) and Vizag (7 cancellations), while Mumbai and Kolkata reported several significant operational issues. As of 9:30 am, the total known cancellations stood at 360.

This follows Sunday’s count of 650 cancelled flights, down from more than 1,000 cancellations two days earlier.

Refunds Worth Rs 610 Crore Processed
With chaos unfolding across the aviation network, IndiGo has refunded more than Rs 610 crore to affected passengers. The Civil Aviation Ministry has directed the airline to process refunds on priority and address commuter grievances swiftly. As of Saturday, the airline had also delivered 3,000 pieces of stranded baggage to passengers.

What Triggered the Crisis?
IndiGo has attributed the turmoil primarily to a severe shortage of cockpit crew, stemming from the full enforcement of government regulations on pilot rest known as the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms.
The airline claims the sudden activation of the updated rest rules sharply reduced pilot availability, triggering mass cancellations across major airports.

In response to the unfolding crisis, the government has temporarily stayed the enforcement of the FDTL rule, giving IndiGo breathing room to restore operations. The airline has expressed hope of achieving normalcy by December 10.

DGCA Issues Show-Cause Notices
On Sunday, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) extended the deadline for IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and Accountable Manager Isidro Porqueras to respond to show-cause notices regarding the disruptions.
Both executives now have until 6 pm on Monday to submit their detailed explanations.

Government Steps In
The Civil Aviation Ministry has taken several corrective steps, including:
• Capping airfares to prevent price surges
• Ordering IndiGo to expedite refund distribution
• Launching a high-level inquiry into the root cause of the disruptions

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has stated that responsibility lies squarely with the airline, noting that the pilot duty regulation was issued a year ago and should not have taken IndiGo by surprise.

IndiGo Examining Core Issues
The airline has said it is closely examining the underlying reasons for the operational breakdown, suggesting that a combination of multiple factors not just FDTL norms played a role in the crisis.

As passengers continue to face uncertainty, airports and aviation authorities remain on high alert, ensuring smoother processes, quicker communication, and faster resolution. With IndiGo working toward full restoration by December 10, travelers remain hopeful that the worst is behind them.