IndiGo Faces Nationwide Disruption as Flight Delays and Cancellations Surge
New Delhi – December 4, 2025 – IndiGo, India's largest airline, is grappling with widespread flight disruptions across the country, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and frustrated. A surge in flight cancellations and delays has been reported at major airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, triggering passenger protests and drawing the attention of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The crisis, which escalated on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, saw IndiGo cancel over 150 flights. The situation deteriorated further on Thursday, with reports indicating more than 200 cancellations across the country. Specifically, sources reported 73 cancellations in Bengaluru, over 30 in Delhi, and 68 in Hyderabad on Thursday. Mumbai also experienced a significant number of cancellations.
Passengers have voiced their anger and frustration, with many taking to social media to share their experiences. Some travelers reported waiting at airports for over 12 hours with little to no communication from the airline, while others missed connecting flights due to the delays. "Total chaos at Hyderabad airport today... flights delayed 12+ hours. To not give accommodation, they kept pushing it by "just 2 more hours" every single time for 12 hours. Same excuse: crew is coming soon. Unacceptable," one passenger posted online.
The primary reason cited for the disruptions is a shortage of crew, exacerbated by the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) by the DGCA on November 1, 2025. The new regulations, aimed at reducing pilot fatigue and enhancing flight safety, impose stricter rest and duty norms for flight crews. These norms include increased weekly rest periods, limitations on night duties, and a cap on the number of landings a pilot can perform during night hours.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), IndiGo cancelled a total of 1,232 flights in November, with 755 of those cancellations attributed to FDTL issues. The DGCA has summoned IndiGo officials to a meeting to discuss the disruptions and to present a plan to mitigate the ongoing situation. The aviation regulator has also launched an investigation into the widespread flight cancellations and delays.
Adding to IndiGo's woes, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has criticized the airline's "lean manpower strategy," stating that it has directly contributed to the current chaos. The FIP further alleged that IndiGo had implemented a hiring freeze and maintained a pilot pay freeze despite being aware of the impending FDTL regulations. Captain CS Randhawa, President of the Federation of Indian Pilots, highlighted that IndiGo's extensive network has worsened the impact of the disruptions. He also cited the airline's fleet expansion without adequate staffing as another contributing factor.
IndiGo has acknowledged the disruptions and has issued an apology to its customers. The airline attributed the situation to a "multitude of unforeseen operational challenges," including the implementation of the FDTL rules, adverse weather conditions, and technology glitches. IndiGo stated that it is making "calibrated adjustments" to its schedules over the next 48 hours to restore normalcy and is offering affected customers alternative travel arrangements or refunds.
The ongoing disruptions have significantly impacted IndiGo's on-time performance (OTP), which plummeted to 19.7% on Wednesday at six key airports. This is a sharp decline from the 35% OTP recorded the previous day and is the lowest among all major Indian airlines. Shares of InterGlobe Aviation, the operator of IndiGo, have also fallen.
