India air‑travel chaos worsens as IndiGo cancels hundreds of flights — travellers left stranded nationwide

A full‑blown crisis in Indian skies

What began as scattered cancellations has spiralled into a full‑scale travel meltdown: over the past four days, IndiGo — India’s largest airline — has grounded, delayed or cancelled hundreds of flights per day, leaving thousands of passengers stranded across major airports.

On Friday alone, around 500 flights were cancelled. mint+2Reuters+2 At one point, the airline’s on‑time performance across six metro airports sank to a shocking 8.5%.

At airports from New Delhi to Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and beyond, passengers found themselves scrambling — gates shuffled, flights disappearing off screens, and people stuck in long queues with minimal information or support.

It’s not just a handful of inconvenienced travellers — entire networks, airports and plans are collapsing under the pressure.

What triggered the meltdown: new pilot‑duty rules clash with airline’s mis‑planning

At the heart of the chaos lies the rollout of tighter regulations governing pilot and crew working hours. In recent months, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) introduced new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) aimed at reducing fatigue — including extended rest periods and stricter limits on nighttime flying.

IndiGo says it underestimated how many pilots and crew it would need under these new constraints. The result: a severe crew shortage almost overnight, leading to mass cancellations and postponed flights.

The airline admitted the mis‑calculation: its earlier roster plans assumed fewer rest‑hours and more efficient crew rotation than the new rules permitted.

In a dramatic move, the DGCA this week temporarily suspended certain aspects of the FDTL — a clear signal that regulators recognise how badly the aviation sector has been hit.

But by then, the damage was already done: for many travellers, flights and plans had already been ruined.

Ground reality: chaos, confusion and frayed nerves at airports

Passengers recount scenes of bewilderment and frustration. Some described waiting more than 12 hours with no updates on their flights, no food or water, and minimal assistance from IndiGo staff.

At airports like Mumbai’s Terminal‑2 and Bengaluru’s Kempegowda, luggage piled up as departures and arrivals were cancelled en masse. Waiting areas overflowed; some travellers resorted to sleeping on terminal floors.

The financial fallout has been steep too: with seats scarce, alternate flights issued by other airlines reportedly soared in price — in many cases, more expensive than tickets for high‑demand concerts.

Law‑makers and regulators are under pressure. The central government has ordered a high‑level inquiry into the disruptions, and the civil‑aviation minister publicly chastised IndiGo for what he described as “poor preparation” for the new crew rules.

Ripple effects beyond IndiGo — entire travel ecosystem strained

Because IndiGo handles roughly 60‑65% of India’s domestic flights, the disruption hasn’t just affected its own passengers. With so many flights cancelled, pressure has mounted on other airlines, airport staff, ground‑handling crews, and the wider travel infrastructure — from taxis to hotels to rail‑air interconnects.

Airports swelled with stranded travellers; ground staff struggled to manage unprecedented queues; alternate transport modes saw a spike in demand. Airlines, too, faced reputational damage and financial losses as frustration and mistrust grew.

Analysts warn this could be one of the worst domestic travel crises India has seen — not just for its scale, but because it reveals structural fault‑lines in how Indian aviation balances rapid growth, safety regulation, and operational planning.

What’s being done — and what’s uncertain

As of Friday, the DGCA has suspended the strictest elements of the FDTL regulations and asked all airlines to refill crew rosters to meet demand.

IndiGo says it’s trimming its flight schedule for the next few days, aiming to restore normal operations by February 2026 — while seeking relief and flexibility to cope with the new duty‑hour norms.

But for many passengers, that means disruption isn’t over yet. Holiday plans, urgent business travel, medical trips — all remain uncertain for those depending on domestic flights.

Independent experts and consumer‑rights advocates say the crisis should prompt broader reforms: better contingency planning for airlines, clearer communication standards for travellers, and perhaps a review of the balance between labour safety (on the side of pilots/workers) and operational resilience (for the public).

The human cost: lives paused, trust shaken

Beyond cancellations and delays lies the human toll: families missing reunions, business trips derailed, students stuck away from home, elderly travellers without support. For many, what was meant to be a routine flight turned into a marathon of anxiety and uncertainty.

“My flight was cancelled. I had medical appointments lined up, hotels booked — all gone,” a Bengaluru‑Delhi passenger told reporters. “There is no explanation, no help — just chaos.”

For thousands more, air travel this week became not a convenience but a gamble. As one airport volunteer put it: “This isn’t just bad weather — it’s structural failure.”

Why the crisis matters for India’s aviation future

India’s skies had been expanding fast: low‑cost carriers, booming demand, growing middle‑class mobility. IndiGo has long been the backbone of that expansion. But this meltdown exposes a fragile reality: when regulation, growth and planning misalign, even a dominant player can falter — and the consequences ripple across the entire system.

The crisis tests not only operational capacity, but also institutional trust. Regulators, airlines and airports must now prove that safety reforms, growth ambitions and customer service can coexist — without grounding the nation in chaos.

If they succeed, the episode may result in stronger regulatory oversight, better contingency systems, and perhaps more balanced long‑term planning. If they fail — the scars may linger, and confidence in Indian air travel could suffer long after the last delayed flight lands.