Mass Cancellations Continue as IndiGo Faces Unprecedented Operational Crisis

India’s air travel sector remains heavily disrupted as IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, struggles to regain stability amid one of the most severe operational breakdowns it has ever faced. Over the past week, the carrier has cancelled more than 4,500 flights, leaving thousands of passengers stranded across major airports and prompting scrutiny from the aviation regulator.

On Sunday alone, IndiGo cancelled around 650 flights — nearly a third of its scheduled operations — with delays and rescheduling affecting several more. Major hubs such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad have seen the worst congestion, with passengers reporting long queues, inadequate communication and delays extending up to ten hours in some cases. The airline has begun processing refunds amounting to hundreds of crores as it attempts to address the escalating passenger backlash.

The disruption stems primarily from new crew-rest and flight-duty regulations introduced this month. These rules, designed to enhance pilot safety and prevent fatigue, significantly limited cockpit crew availability. IndiGo was reportedly unable to realign its scheduling and staffing in time, causing a domino effect across its network and forcing large-scale cancellations.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo’s top management, seeking an explanation for what it described as inadequate planning and oversight. The regulator has warned of potential enforcement action under civil aviation norms if the airline fails to justify the lapses that led to the nationwide crisis.

In a bid to stabilise operations, IndiGo has begun scaling down flights from December 8. The airline has stated that it aims to fully restore normal operations by February 2026, although flight frequency will remain reduced in the interim. It claims to have reinstated services to nearly all its destinations, even as it operates on a trimmed schedule to rebuild rosters and avoid further chaos.

Despite these measures, passengers continue to face uncertainty, with many still experiencing last-minute cancellations, baggage delays and limited customer support. The ongoing situation has raised significant concerns about the airline’s preparedness for regulatory changes and its crisis-management capabilities.

As investigations continue, the IndiGo crisis is prompting broader questions about operational resilience within India’s aviation sector, especially during peak travel periods where even minor disruptions can cause nationwide ripple effects.