The IndiGo flight chaos dominating national headlines has stretched into yet another day, affecting thousands of passengers across India. With widespread flight cancellations, delays, and mounting traveller frustration, the situation has escalated into one of the most disruptive crises Indian aviation has seen in recent years. The DGCA warning issued to the airline added regulatory pressure as officials moved in to stabilise operations and understand how India’s largest carrier reached this level of breakdown.
Ongoing Cancellations Across Major Airports
As of 11 December, hundreds of passengers at major airports like Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai continue to face long queues, unexpected flight cancellations and last-minute schedule changes. IndiGo has already cancelled over 2,000 flights in the last several days, with daily cancellations still touching more than 200 in some cities.
Passengers arriving at airports early in the morning found departure boards packed with “Cancelled” or “Rescheduled” statuses. Many families, business travellers and students reported that they had received no advance SMS alerts, discovering the cancellations only after reaching the airport. The situation has left several domestic hubs struggling to manage crowding, baggage issues and rebooking requests.
Why Is IndiGo Cancelling So Many Flights?
The current wave of cancellations is primarily tied to a large-scale crew shortage triggered by updated pilot duty and rest regulations. The new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) introduced this year have significantly tightened night-flying and weekly rest requirements for pilots. IndiGo, which operated one of the heaviest night-rotation networks in India, faced an immediate shortage in available crew hours when these rules came into effect.
Beyond crew issues, the airline is also dealing with:
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A complicated winter schedule
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Weather-related congestion in north India
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Internal planning lapses
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The pressure of managing India’s largest domestic fleet
Executives have acknowledged that the situation is a “multi-factor operational disruption” rather than a single-point failure.
DGCA Steps In With Strong Action
The Director General of Civil Aviation has taken extraordinary measures to control the crisis. These include:
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A show-cause notice issued directly to IndiGo’s CEO
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Deployment of an oversight team inside the airline’s headquarters
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Daily monitoring of crew rosters, flight dispatch, cancellations and refund handling
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Surprise inspections at major Indian airports
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Mandatory daily reports on the status of operations
The regulatory body has made it clear that passenger interests are a top priority, and any operational failure at the scale witnessed over the past week will not be tolerated.
Government’s Warning to IndiGo
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has issued a strong message to the airline’s leadership. According to officials, the ministry has warned that if IndiGo fails to demonstrate rapid and visible improvements, it may consider holding senior executives fully accountable. Discussions about penalties, operational restrictions and deeper audits are already underway.
In addition, the government has instructed the airline to:
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Improve passenger communication
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Strengthen airport-level staff deployment
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Ensure that rebooking or refunds are processed swiftly
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Maintain transparency in daily flight schedules
The tone from the government indicates this is being treated as a matter of national aviation stability.
Passenger Experiences: Long Queues and No Communication
Across social media platforms and airport interviews, dozens of travellers described similar challenges:
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No prior intimation about cancellations
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Lack of staff at counters
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Hours-long queues for rebooking
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Delayed baggage return after cancellations
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Difficulty accessing telephonic customer care
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Confusion about compensation eligibility
Many passengers were left spending the night at airports with children and elderly family members. Business travellers also reported missed meetings and severe schedule disruptions.
What Is IndiGo Doing to Recover?
IndiGo has taken a series of steps to stabilise operations:
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Reducing the number of scheduled flights for the next several days
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Reworking crew rosters to align with the new FDTL requirements
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Increasing refund processing staff
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Hiring external experts to assess planning failures
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Requesting temporary regulatory relief to manage night operations
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Reassigning backup crew to high-traffic metro routes
The airline has informed authorities that full recovery may take until early February 2026, though regulators have urged a much faster stabilisation timeline.
What Should Passengers Do Right Now?
If you are travelling with IndiGo this week or next, follow these essential guidelines:
1. Keep checking flight status multiple times a day.
Schedules are being updated frequently.
2. Use the airline’s app for instant updates.
Website and app notifications are faster than SMS.
3. Reach the airport earlier than usual.
Crowds at check-in and customer service counters remain high.
4. Keep all booking details and receipts.
These are needed for refund or compensation claims.
5. Know your rights.
Under DGCA rules, if your flight is cancelled within six hours of departure, you are eligible for either alternative travel or full refund. In some cases, compensation may also apply.
6. If stranded, demand written confirmation of cancellation.
This helps speed up refund and rebooking processes.
When Will Normalcy Return?
While IndiGo claims that its internal operations are gradually stabilising, actual conditions at airports suggest that disruptions may continue for several more days. Some airports, such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, are still reporting morning-hour cancellations and evening-hour delays. Regulatory oversight will continue until daily cancellation numbers drop significantly and passenger handling improves.
FAQs
Why are so many IndiGo flights being cancelled?
The cancellations are mainly due to reduced pilot availability after new duty-time regulations came into effect. Combined with winter congestion and planning challenges, this has led to widespread disruptions across major airports.
What actions has the DGCA taken against IndiGo?
The DGCA has issued a show-cause notice, deployed oversight teams, conducted inspections, and demanded daily operational updates to ensure passenger interests are protected during the ongoing disruptions.
How long are these flight disruptions expected to continue?
Although IndiGo has stated that recovery may take some time, regulators expect faster improvements. Passengers may still experience cancellations or delays in the coming days.
Are passengers eligible for refunds or alternative flights?
Yes. If your flight is cancelled or significantly delayed, you are entitled to a refund or an alternate flight option as per DGCA passenger rights guidelines.
Is it advisable to book new tickets with IndiGo right now?
Passengers can book, but it is recommended to monitor flight schedules closely and stay updated, as some airports continue to face operational delays.
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