Nationwide IndiGo Flight Cancellations Cause Major Disruptions Despite DGCA Intervention

IndiGo passengers across the country encountered significant disruptions on Friday as numerous flights were cancelled nationwide.

At Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Saturday, scenes of distress unfolded with extended queues, distressed passengers, and multiple flight cancellations as IndiGo continued to struggle with operational challenges throughout the country.

These disruptions occurred despite the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) suspending its Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) orders with immediate effect. This regulatory pause follows several days of widespread delays and cancellations affecting IndiGo's operations, causing substantial inconvenience to travelers across various routes.

Airport officials reported that between midnight and 6 am on Saturday at Ahmedabad airport alone, seven arriving flights and twelve departing flights were cancelled. The service interruption resulted in extensive waiting lines, overcrowded service counters, and mounting frustration among passengers unable to secure alternative travel arrangements.

Mahrishi Jani, one of the affected passengers, became emotional while describing how the disruption cost him and his team a significant opportunity they had worked towards for months.

"I was scheduled to fly to Guwahati on a 6:15 am flight with a connection through Kolkata. We had been selected for Smart India Hackathon 2025, where approximately 74,000 ideas were submitted and only about 1,400 were chosen. Our center was North-Eastern Hill University, where we were expected to perform," he told ANI.

Jani further explained that despite months of preparation, the cancellation left his six-member team and two mentors without viable alternatives. "We had booked IndiGo flights, but with the flight delayed, we cannot attend the event. There is no other feasible transportation option. Taking a train would require three days of travel. Our 6-7 months of hard work has been wasted. We're returning home. Such opportunities are uncommon... We succeeded on our first attempt, but the flight cancellation has prevented us from participating. Our team consisted of six members plus two accompanying mentors."

Ikhlaq Hussain, another passenger, described being stranded despite having traveled internationally. "I arrived in Ahmedabad from Jeddah and need to continue to Lucknow... I've been stuck here for the past two days as my flight continues to be delayed," Hussain stated.

On Friday, numerous passengers nationwide experienced inconvenience due to IndiGo flight delays and cancellations. Amid these ongoing issues, a passenger scheduled to travel from Jodhpur Airport to Bengaluru shared that the airline had been unresponsive since morning.

"No IndiGo representative is providing any answers. We've been waiting here since morning... I've been standing here since early hours. I need to reach Bengaluru urgently by evening... I'm concerned," the passenger explained.

Another traveler at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Odisha described her difficult experience, stating that even after waiting three hours at the airport, she received no clarification regarding her flight status.

"My flight from Bhubaneswar to Bengaluru was scheduled for December 5... I had a connecting flight to Vietnam from Bengaluru. This crisis began on December 3. I came here yesterday to inquire about my flight schedule... I spent three hours asking about my flight status, but they claimed not to know... They had flights to Bengaluru yesterday... I requested accommodation on one of their Bengaluru flights so I could catch my international connection to Vietnam, but they wouldn't provide even one seat... Road travel wasn't an option since the distance between Bhubaneswar and Bengaluru takes 25-26 hours to cover... Nobody is listening. There's only one staff member, and they have neither answers nor solutions... There's complete lack of clarity..." she recounted.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has instructed airlines, particularly IndiGo, to implement immediate measures to address the severe disruption to flight schedules and stabilize services without delay, according to an official statement.

Two orders have been issued to resolve problems faced by the public and restore service stability, especially regarding IndiGo.

The directive stated: "It is expected that all flight schedules would stabilize and begin returning to normal by midnight tonight; Full services and stability should return over the next couple of days; Passengers can track delays, if any, from home through information systems installed by IndiGo and others; In the event of flight cancellation, IndiGo will ensure automatic full refund for tickets."

"If passengers are stranded, they will be accommodated at hotels booked by airlines. Special measures have been implemented to ensure senior citizens are not inconvenienced in any manner. They will receive lounge access; Passengers on delayed flights will be provided with refreshments and other necessities; A 24x7 control room at the Ministry of Civil Aviation is constantly monitoring the situation on a time basis," the order further detailed.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation affirmed that the Central Government is fully aware of air passengers' difficulties and remains in constant consultation with all stakeholders. "Every possible measure, including rule exemptions as announced by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Friday, will be taken to restore schedules and ensure stability to alleviate the public's concerns," the statement concluded.