IndiNoGo: 300 Flights Nixed as Airline Chaos Worsens

A fresh wave of disruptions has hit IndiGo, India's largest airline, with over 300 domestic and international flights canceled on Thursday, December 4, 2025. This comes after more than 200 flights were canceled the previous day, causing widespread chaos and leaving thousands of passengers stranded across major airports. The situation has triggered mounting passenger anger and prompted the airline to issue an apology for the inconvenience caused.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken note of the situation and has asked IndiGo to present a detailed report explaining the reasons for the disruptions and the steps being taken to mitigate the ongoing delays and cancellations.

The cancellations and delays have affected major hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, with significant numbers of flights being grounded. For example, Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport reported 70 flight cancellations, while Mumbai airport saw 86 flights canceled. In Delhi, 44 departing and 47 arriving flights were canceled as of 1 PM on Thursday. Chennai airport also experienced cancellations, with 13 outgoing and 13 incoming flights being grounded.

IndiGo has attributed the disruptions to a combination of factors, including minor technology glitches, schedule changes linked to the winter season, adverse weather conditions, increased congestion in the aviation system, and the implementation of updated crew rostering rules known as Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL). The FDTL rules, which came into effect in November, limit the maximum hours that pilots and flight crews can work to prevent fatigue and ensure safety.

However, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has clarified that the recent flight cancellations are not solely due to the FDTL regulations. They argue that other airlines have managed their pilot requirements effectively, suggesting that IndiGo's disruptions are due to inadequate manpower planning. The DGCA also pointed out that IndiGo underestimated pilot requirements.

Adding to the chaos, IndiGo's baggage systems at Delhi's Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 encountered problems on Wednesday, further exacerbating the situation for passengers.

IndiGo, which operates over 2,200 flights daily and holds a domestic market share of over 60%, has been facing pressure on its results in recent quarters. The airline reported a loss of Rs 2,581.7 crore for the quarter ending September 30, 2025.

The airline has initiated "calibrated adjustments" to its schedules to contain the disruption and restore stability. These measures are expected to remain in place for the next 48 hours. IndiGo is also offering affected customers alternate flight options or refunds. The airline has asked passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport to minimize inconvenience.

The DGCA has stated that IndiGo has assured them that corrective actions are underway and that normalized and stable operations will be fully restored by February 10, 2026. In the interim, IndiGo has requested operational variations/exemptions from specific FDTL provisions for Airbus A320 operations until February 10, 2026.