All IndiGo domestic flights scheduled to depart from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport have been cancelled until midnight tonight, causing widespread disruption and chaos for passengers. The cancellations, announced by the airport authorities on Friday morning, December 5, 2025, exacerbate the operational challenges the airline has been facing for the past several days.
The situation has left thousands of travelers stranded, scrambling to rebook flights or find alternative travel arrangements. The cancellations apply to all IndiGo domestic departures from Delhi airport until 11:59 PM. Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has stated that its on-ground teams are working to mitigate the disruption and provide assistance to affected passengers. Operations for all other carriers at Delhi Airport are proceeding as scheduled.
This latest announcement follows a day of unprecedented disruption for IndiGo, with over 500 flights cancelled across its network on Thursday. These cancellations impacted major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai. The airline has attributed the chaos to a misjudgment of crew requirements following the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL). According to the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), IndiGo has acknowledged that its initial crew planning was insufficient to meet the demands of the new regulations.
IndiGo has warned that further cancellations and disruptions are likely to continue for the next few days as it works to stabilize its schedule. The airline anticipates that it will take until February 10, 2026, to fully restore normal operations. As a short-term measure, IndiGo plans to reduce flight operations starting December 8 to minimize further disruptions.
Adding to the confusion, initial reports indicated conflicting information regarding the duration of the Delhi flight cancellations. While the airport announced cancellations until midnight, sources within the DGCA initially suggested that cancellations would only last until 3 PM. This discrepancy has further aggravated passenger anxiety and uncertainty amidst rising travel costs.
The DGCA has acknowledged IndiGo's explanation of the situation, stating that the disruptions stemmed from "misjudgment and planning gaps" in implementing the second phase of the FDTL regulations. The aviation regulator also noted that IndiGo has accepted that its actual crew requirements exceeded their initial estimates.
In response to the crisis, IndiGo has requested a temporary exemption from the new duty-time rules to facilitate a return to stable operations. The airline is also temporarily suspending the cap on night landings and has rolled back the revised definition of night duty.
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers has cautioned staff that restoring punctuality and normalizing operations will not be easy. The airline is working to address the crew shortages and logistical challenges that have contributed to the widespread flight cancellations. Passengers are advised to check the status of their flights and contact IndiGo for assistance with rebooking or refunds. The situation remains fluid, and further updates are expected as IndiGo continues its efforts to resolve the operational disruptions.
