Massive Disruption: Hundreds Stranded as IndiGo Cancels Over 500 Flights Across Major Indian Airports

IndiGo has warned that additional flights are expected to be cancelled over the coming two-three days.

New Delhi:

Hundreds of travelers are currently stranded at major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad as IndiGo continues to experience "operational disruptions" for the fourth consecutive day, resulting in numerous flight cancellations. Passengers at Delhi airport are expressing frustration over the lack of communication from India's largest airline and insufficient information regarding their travel arrangements.

Travelers are facing multiple challenges including unstaffed IndiGo counters, no provisions for food or water, and difficulties retrieving their luggage. By 10 am on Friday, IndiGo had already cancelled 523 flights. The most significant disruptions are occurring at Delhi airport with 225 cancelled flights, followed by 104 in Mumbai, 102 in Bengaluru, and 92 in Hyderabad. According to the latest advisory to passengers, all IndiGo domestic flights departing from Delhi airport have been cancelled until midnight today.

On Thursday, IndiGo cancelled an unprecedented 550 domestic and international flights, marking the highest number of cancellations in the airline's 20-year operational history.

NDTV interviewed affected passengers at Terminal 2 of Delhi airport. One couple traveling from Bikaner to Delhi with an onward connection to Patna found themselves stranded without guidance on how to proceed.

Dr. Rajesh Tiwari from Bihar claimed he only discovered his flight cancellation after arriving at the airport.

"IndiGo provided me with a boarding pass. The display board still indicates the flight is on schedule, yet they are preventing us from boarding due to the cancellation. I've been waiting here for three hours without any clarity on whether or when I'll be able to fly," Dr. Tiwari explained.

He added that IndiGo is not offering rebooking options for alternative flights, and even if they did, passengers' confidence in the airline has been severely compromised. Dr. Tiwari and his wife also mentioned the surge in flight prices amid IndiGo's operational turmoil.

"Booking another flight isn't feasible either. The costs have skyrocketed, and as middle-class individuals, we simply cannot afford such expenses," his wife stated.

"This situation brings shame to our country; with numerous foreign tourists affected, what impression will they form about India?" Dr. Tiwari remarked.

A travel agent expressed frustration, saying that 80 of his international clients intended to fly to Varanasi are now stranded at the airport. They only learned about their flight cancellation upon arrival, despite the display board still showing check-in as active, contradicting the actual situation on the ground.

"I booked all my customers on IndiGo with confidence that this leading national airline is known for punctuality. However, we're now facing a complete absence of updates, information, or compensation from IndiGo, leaving tourists from around the world stranded here," the travel agent elaborated.

Another passenger traveling from Delhi to Raipur for his sister's wedding discovered his flight was cancelled while en route to the airport.

"IndiGo has indicated they might accommodate me on a flight tomorrow. There are no connecting flights available either. I considered flying with another airline, but fares are exceptionally high, with Air India charging between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000 for a one-way journey," he explained.

One passenger reported receiving contradictory messages from IndiGo. An initial message stated his flight was cancelled, while a subsequent message thanked him for completing web check-in, stating, "We can't wait to welcome you onboard."

IndiGo Seeks Rules Exemption Until February 10

On Thursday, IndiGo issued a "heartfelt apology" to customers and industry partners affected by the widespread disruptions. The airline has requested an exemption from pilot rest and duty regulations until February 10, 2026, specifically regarding night duty flights for its A320 fleet.

The airline acknowledged miscalculating crew requirements under new regulations and experiencing planning deficiencies, resulting in insufficient crew availability during a period already complicated by winter weather conditions and congestion.

IndiGo has cautioned that cancellations will likely continue for the next two to three days as part of its schedule stabilization efforts. Beginning December 8, the airline plans to reduce flight operations to minimize further disruption.