India’s largest airline faces a deepening operational crisis with fresh cancellations reported across major metros today, prompting a probe by the aviation regulator.
IndiGo passengers faced a third consecutive day of travel chaos on Thursday as the airline cancelled dozens more flights, struggling to recover from a “perfect storm” of crew shortages, technical glitches, and winter weather. The fresh disruptions follow a meltdown on Wednesday that saw over 200 flights scrapped nationwide, plunging the carrier’s on-time performance to a dismal 35%, its lowest in recent history.
The disruption has hit major hubs hardest. On Thursday morning alone, Hyderabad airport reported over 30 outbound cancellations, while Bengaluru saw 73 services scrapped. Delhi and Mumbai also witnessed significant groundings, leaving thousands of passengers stranded with little prior notice.
IndiGo, which commands nearly 60% of India’s domestic market, has attributed the breakdown to a combination of factors. A primary cause is a severe shortage of cabin crew and pilots, reportedly exacerbated by the implementation of stricter Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms that require more rest periods for staff. Industry sources also point to a “massive recruitment drive” by rival international airlines like Emirates in Delhi and Mumbai this week, which has led to a sudden exodus of crew.
Adding to the turmoil, a technical glitch affected check-in systems at multiple airports on Wednesday, forcing staff to switch to slower manual processing. This, combined with dense winter fog in northern India, created a cascading effect of delays that the airline is still fighting to clear.
“We have had several unavoidable flight delays and some cancellations… due to minor technology issues, airport congestion, and updated crew rostering rules,” an IndiGo spokesperson said, adding that “calibrated adjustments” to the schedule would continue for the next 48 hours.
Passengers have vented their fury on social media. “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,” one stranded traveller wrote on X.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken notice, summoning the airline’s top management to explain the “unprecedented disruptions.” “DGCA is investigating the situation and evaluating measures… to minimise inconvenience,” an official stated.
The crisis has rattled investor confidence, with shares in InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo’s parent company) falling over 3% to a five-month low on Thursday.
The timing is critical as India enters its peak winter travel season. The new FDTL rules, intended to reduce pilot fatigue, have strained resources across the industry, but IndiGo’s sheer scale means its disruptions have a disproportionate impact on the country’s connectivity. Airfares on affected routes have reportedly surged as desperate travellers book last-minute alternatives.
IndiGo has stated it expects operations to “normalise” within 48 hours as it rejigs its roster and consolidates flights. However, with the DGCA probe underway and the winter fog season just beginning, passengers are advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport for the remainder of the week.
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