IndiGo Cancels 650 Flights Amid Nationwide Disruptions; Operations Expected to Stabilize by December 10
India’s largest airline, IndiGo, faced massive operational turmoil on Sunday, cancelling 650 flights across the country.
The disruptions, now in their sixth consecutive day, left thousands of passengers stranded at major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Amritsar.
The airline reported operating 1,650 flights, down from its usual 2,300, but noted an improvement in on-time performance to 75%, compared to just 30% the previous day.
IndiGo has assured passengers that operations are expected to stabilise by December 10.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo’s accountable manager, citing lapses in planning and resource management.
A four-member inquiry committee has been formed to investigate crew scheduling and compliance with new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules.
Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Ministry has stepped in to cap airfares temporarily to prevent price surges amid reduced capacity. Fares have been capped at Rs 7,500 for routes under 500 km, Rs 12,000 for 500–1,000 km, Rs 15,000 for 1,000–1,500 km, and Rs 18,000 for longer routes.
To ease passenger woes, Indian Railways has announced 89 special trains and added extra coaches on high-demand routes. The Northeast Frontier Railway has also deployed special trains between Dibrugarh–New Delhi and Guwahati–Howrah.
IndiGo’s Board has formed a Crisis Management Group to oversee the situation. Refunds for cancelled flights are mandated to be completed by 8 pm Sunday, while misplaced baggage is expected to be delivered within two days.
CEO Pieter Elbers acknowledged the scale of the crisis, stating that while stabilisation is expected by December 10, it will “take some time” to return to full normalcy.
