Nationwide Travel Chaos: Over 1,000 IndiGo Flights Cancelled in Two Days, Thousands Stranded as Govt Orders Probe and Fare Cap

India witnessed one of its worst aviation disruptions in recent years as IndiGo, the country’s largest domestic airline, cancelled more than 400 flights on Saturday alone, following over 1,000 cancellations the previous day.

The disruption paralysed air travel across major airports, leaving thousands of passengers stranded—many in tears—as chaos unfolded at terminals in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and other cities.

Why the Crisis Occurred

The massive flight cancellations were triggered by challenges surrounding the implementation of the new Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) norms for cockpit crew, mandated by court orders to improve pilot rest and safety.

Airlines, including IndiGo, sought temporary operational relief after struggling to align crew schedules with the new norms.

However, despite partial relaxations granted on Friday, the crisis intensified as IndiGo attempted what CEO Pieter Elbers described as a “system reboot” to realign aircraft and staff.

Passengers Bear the Brunt

The sudden cancellations created chaos at airports, where distressed passengers waited for hours with little information.

Videos and images from terminals showed travellers crying, sleeping on floors, and pleading for alternatives.

Ticket prices surged sharply due to the shortage of available seats. For instance:

• The only Mumbai–Delhi flight available was priced at ₹51,860
• Delhi–Mumbai seats touched ₹48,972

Many passengers also complained about lost baggage and a lack of assistance from airline staff. A lady passenger was in tears at Kolkata airport

Government Intervention

In response to nationwide outrage, the Ministry of Civil Aviation stepped in with an emergency set of directives:

• Cap on domestic airfares to prevent price exploitation.
• Mandatory refund processing by 8 PM on Sunday, 7 December 2025
• No rescheduling or cancellation fees for affected travellers.
• High-level probe initiated, with Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu warning that those found responsible will “pay for it.”
• Passenger support & refund facilitation cells to be set up by IndiGo.
• All misplaced baggage is to be located and delivered within 48 hours.
• Zero-inconvenience policy activation, prioritising support for vulnerable travellers, including senior citizens, students, and medical passengers.

IndiGo CEO Issues Public Apology

In an official statement, CEO Pieter Elbers acknowledged that December 5 was the airline’s worst-hit day, with over half of all IndiGo flights cancelled.

He apologised, admitting that previous corrective measures were insufficient and that the airline is working to restore normal operations by 10–15 December.

What Happens Next?

• Regulatory investigation already underway to determine accountability.
• Monitoring will continue until operations fully stabilise.
• Airlines remain under strict scrutiny to avoid recurrence.

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