India’s largest airline, IndiGo, continues to reel under major operational disruptions as flight cancellations and delays threw airports into chaos for the third day in a row. On Thursday alone, over 250 IndiGo flights were cancelled, leaving thousands of passengers stranded across major cities.
Visuals circulated on social media showed long queues, overcrowded terminals, and frustrated passengers waiting for hours with little clarity on rescheduled flights. IndiGo’s on-time performance has taken a severe hit—dropping to 19.7% on Wednesday, down from 35% the previous day.
Mass Cancellations Across Major Airports
According to officials, the breakdown of Thursday’s cancellations includes:
- Delhi: 33 flights
- Hyderabad: 68 flights
- Mumbai: 85 flights
- Bengaluru: 73 flights
More cancellations are expected at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport as the crisis continues.
On Wednesday, Delhi recorded 67 cancellations, Bengaluru 42, Hyderabad 40, and Mumbai 33, adding to the mounting distress for passengers nationwide.
Nationwide Chaos and Passenger Complaints on IndiGo flights cancel
Passengers took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share their ordeal:
One user wrote:
“We have been at Hyderabad Airport since 6 PM yesterday until 9 AM today. No action taken by IndiGo regarding our Pune flight. This has caused immense inconvenience.”
Another traveller shared:
“My flight was delayed for 22 hours with no proper communication. This is extremely frustrating from India’s largest airline.”
Many others expressed frustration over last-minute cancellations, rescheduling, and poor communication from the airline staff.
What’s Behind the Massive Disruptions?
The primary cause of the chaos appears to be a crew shortage, particularly pilots, due to the implementation of the updated Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) introduced by DGCA in November.
The new rules include:
- 48 hours of mandatory weekly rest
- Extended night duty hours
- Reduction of night landings from six to two
These changes, aimed at reducing pilot fatigue and improving safety, have significantly affected IndiGo’s crew availability, leading to widespread cancellations.
An IndiGo spokesperson stated that “operational disruptions” continue to impact flights and that the airline is working on “calibrated adjustments” expected to help restore normal operations within the next 48 hours.
When Will Normalcy Return?
While the airline has assured passengers that recovery measures are underway, the situation remains critical. With thousands of travellers affected and more cancellations anticipated, passengers are urging IndiGo and aviation authorities to take immediate measures to stabilise flight schedules.
As operations slowly adjust to the new norms, it may take a few more days before IndiGo’s punctuality and regular services return to normal.