Saturday, March 29, 2025
IndiGo, one of India’s largest airlines, is facing a major operational disruption that has severely affected passengers nationwide. Over the last few days, more than 100 flights across eight airports have either been cancelled or delayed, leaving thousands of travellers stranded. Airfares on several routes have surged sharply — in some cases up to five times higher than usual.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken note of the situation and summoned IndiGo for an explanation, seeking an action plan to restore normal operations.
Here are the top updates:
IndiGo has attributed the disruptions to technical glitches, winter schedule adjustments, and crew shortages caused by recently updated regulatory requirements for crew duty time limits.
However, the Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPAI) alleges that IndiGo is using cancellations to hide an ongoing pilot shortage and is trying to obtain exemptions from Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) norms.
IndiGo’s flight cancellations have hit several major Indian cities:
Bengaluru – 42 flights cancelled
Delhi – 38
Ahmedabad – 25
Hyderabad – 19
Indore – 11
Kolkata – 10
Others – 8
Passengers reported long queues, confusion, and lack of timely communication from the airline.
Several videos from Delhi, Patna, and Bengaluru airports show frustrated passengers arguing with airline staff after hours-long delays. In one instance, Delhi–Patna passengers were seen protesting outside the cockpit area.
Taking a strict view, the DGCA has summoned IndiGo to explain the reasons behind the massive operational failure and to present a concrete plan to stabilize flight schedules.
Hyderabad saw more than 40 departures and arrivals cancelled, while Bengaluru’s Kempegowda Airport recorded cancellations of over 42 IndiGo flights, causing widespread disruption.
Due to sudden demand on alternative flights:
Delhi–Mumbai tickets, usually ₹4,000–₹5,000,
are now priced between ₹21,000 and ₹25,000.
Other busy routes have also seen steep price hikes.
Social media is flooded with visuals of stranded passengers, overcrowded terminals, and last-minute flight changes. Many travellers claim they were not informed in advance.
The airline said it has taken steps to restore normal operations but warned that disruptions may continue for the next 48 hours.
IndiGo also cited:
minor technical faults
winter schedule adjustments
bad weather
increased congestion in the aviation network
new crew roster regulations
as reasons behind the crisis.
Data shows that IndiGo had already cancelled 1,232 flights in November, many due to crew/FDTL limitations. IndiGo operates over 2,200 flights daily.
On December 2, IndiGo recorded a 35% on-time performance, one of its lowest ever.
The DGCA is now reviewing whether IndiGo is facing genuine operational problems or if the airline is mismanaging crew rosters. Further regulatory action is possible depending on IndiGo’s explanation.
