By Sean D Silva
India’s air travel disruption escalated sharply on Friday as IndiGo — the country’s largest airline — cancelled hundreds of flights nationwide, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and prompting widespread criticism of the carrier’s handling of the crisis.
The cancellations began earlier in the week but intensified over the past 48 hours, affecting major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. Long queues, extended delays, and last-minute flight updates created chaotic scenes across terminals, with many passengers complaining they were not informed in advance.
IndiGo attributed the cancellations to “severe operational disruptions,” citing an unexpected shortage of crew members and ongoing technical issues. However, aviation experts say the scale of the disruption suggests deeper systemic problems, including staffing imbalances, increased demand, and potential scheduling mismanagement.
Passengers took to social media to express frustration, sharing images of crowded terminals and missed connections. Some reported receiving cancellation notices only after reaching the airport, while others were unable to rebook due to limited seat availability on other airlines.
Officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have demanded a detailed explanation from IndiGo, noting that such widespread cancellations could violate passenger rights guidelines. The aviation regulator said it is monitoring the situation and evaluating whether penalties should be imposed.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has asked IndiGo to urgently restore normal operations and ensure that passengers are compensated as per regulations, including meal vouchers, full refunds, or alternate bookings.
Despite customer backlash, IndiGo insisted that teams were working round-the-clock to stabilise schedules and “minimise further inconvenience.” The airline has not confirmed how long the disruptions will continue, though insiders suggest normal operations may not resume for several days.
The situation has highlighted the vulnerability of India’s aviation sector, which has struggled to keep pace with post-pandemic travel demand amid staffing shortages and operational pressures. With the ongoing holiday and wedding travel season, continued disruptions could significantly impact millions of travellers.
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