Amid the widespread chaos caused by recent IndiGo flight disruptions, a surge in demand for private jets has been observed across India. With thousands of passengers stranded due to mass cancellations, charter and business jet operators are experiencing an unprecedented rise in inquiries.
IndiGo, the country's largest airline, has faced significant operational challenges in recent days, leading to the cancellation of over 2,100 flights across major Indian airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai. The disruptions, which began in early December 2025, have been attributed to the airline's failure to adequately adjust to new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules for pilots, aimed at combating pilot fatigue. These new regulations, which the government announced in 2024, increased pilot rest periods and reduced night work. While IndiGo initially delayed implementation, it struggled to fully comply, leading to widespread crew shortages and a cascading breakdown of operations.
The situation has left countless travelers stranded, with many receiving last-minute updates and facing long queues and poor communication from the airline. The disruptions have been particularly severe during India's peak wedding season, causing major inconvenience for those traveling to and from wedding celebrations. The crisis prompted the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to issue a show-cause notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers, demanding an explanation for the operational failures and warning of potential regulatory action.
As a result of the chaos, many passengers, including business executives, families, and frequent travelers, have turned to private charters as a last-minute alternative. Charter and business jet operators have reported a dramatic increase in demand, with inquiries multiplying at an extraordinary pace. Pune-based Nibe Aeronautics Limited, for example, reported a fivefold jump in inquiries within 48 hours. According to Sourabh Jangid, the company's Accountable Manager, daily inquiries have surged from around 10 to 50, with Hyderabad alone contributing nearly a quarter of the demand. Mumbai and Ahmedabad have also seen heavy activity.
The surge in demand has led to a near tripling of actual charter movements. Nibe Aeronautics, which typically operates 2 to 3 charters per day, is now flying 6 to 7 charters, amounting to as many as 14 flights a day. The company's three aircraft are operating at full capacity, with additional requests being handled through partner operators. Corporate travelers remain the largest group seeking charters, but families are increasingly turning to private jets as well. In one instance, a Delhi family chartered a flight to Ayodhya after commercial disruptions threatened to derail their pre-scheduled ceremonial visit. Operators have also reported emergency requests linked to medical travel.
Delhi-based Arrow Charters has also noted a similar trend, with Managing Director Shailendra Singh reporting that even empty-leg flights are being snapped up instantly. The company has doubled its deployments, using both jets and helicopters to cope with the surge.
The spike in domestic airfares caused by the IndiGo disruptions has further fueled the demand for private charters. Fares on major routes have skyrocketed, with some last-minute tickets exceeding ₹1 lakh. Many travelers are now requesting immediate departures, even if it means paying for ferry time to bring an aircraft from another city.
To address the crisis, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed IndiGo to clear all pending passenger refunds by December 7, 2025. The ministry has also capped airfares to control the surge in ticket prices. IndiGo has announced automatic refunds for all cancelled bookings and a full waiver on cancellation or rescheduling charges for travel between December 5 and 15.
While IndiGo is working to restore normalcy, charter operators expect the intense demand for private jets to continue until airline operations stabilize. However, the private aviation sector faces its own challenges, including crew mobilization difficulties and airport congestion. Despite these challenges, the surge in private jet demand highlights the significant impact of the IndiGo flight disruptions on the travel industry and the lengths to which passengers are willing to go to avoid travel disruptions.
