Thousands of IndiGo passengers faced significant disruptions as the airline experienced widespread flight delays and cancellations, leaving many stranded at airports and waiting for luggage, sometimes without food. The operational crisis, which began earlier in the week, continued to plague travelers on Thursday, with the situation expected to persist for a few more days.
On Thursday, IndiGo canceled 163 domestic flights and delayed 98 out of 101 departures from Delhi airport alone, impacting approximately 16,500 passengers in the capital. Across the country, the airline canceled around 300 flights. The average delay per flight was about 160 minutes due to crew-related issues. The chaos extended to other major hubs like Mumbai and Bengaluru.
Passengers reported significant challenges in retrieving their checked luggage, with some waiting for three to four days to recover their belongings. At Delhi's Terminal 1, anxious crowds gathered at IndiGo ticket counters seeking information about flight disruptions and lost luggage containing essential documents, medicines, and valuables. One passenger arriving from the US via Chennai on Tuesday morning still had not located three checked suitcases. Another passenger, who is diabetic, missed an important meeting and lacked access to essential medicines packed in his missing luggage.
Many passengers expressed frustration with the airline's handling of the situation. Some travelers claimed that IndiGo staff provided little assistance in locating lost luggage, and some were even told to go home with assurances that their luggage would be delivered later. Passengers also complained about inadequate passenger-handling manpower to manage the disruption-induced crowding. Those who opted for IndiGo's Plan B, which allows for alternate flights or refunds in case of delays or cancellations, found that even those alternative flights were also delayed or canceled.
IndiGo attributed the disruptions to underestimating pilot needs under new duty rules and has admitted to misjudging crew requirements. The airline has requested "operational variations/exemptions from specific FDTL provisions… for Airbus A320 operations up to Feb 10, 2026". The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is monitoring the situation and has stated that IndiGo has assured them that corrective actions are underway and that normalized operations will be fully restored by February 10, 2026. However, flight cancellations are expected to continue for the next few days, and IndiGo will reduce flight operations to minimize disruption starting Monday, December 8.
The situation has also affected other airlines, as grounded IndiGo aircraft occupied parking bays, causing congestion and delays for other carriers' flights. Pune Airport, with only 10 parking bays, was particularly affected, leading to flight diversions. Airport officials are working with all airlines and ground handling agencies to manage the congestion and support passengers.
