Indigo cancels over 1,000 flights in 3 days, chaos ensues
What's the story
IndiGo, India's largest airline, has canceled over 1,000 flights since Tuesday due to operational disruptions, according to Hindustan Times. The chaos has left tens of thousands of passengers stranded across the country. On Thursday alone, more than 400 flights were canceled as the airline admitted to "misjudgment and planning gaps" that led to the massive disruption.
Performance drop
IndiGo's on-time performance plummets amid cancellations
IndiGo, which is usually known for its punctuality, experienced a drastic drop in its on-time performance. It fell to 19.7% on Wednesday from 35% on Tuesday. At Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, 135 IndiGo departures and 90 arrivals were canceled on Friday, the report said, citing airport officials. Moreover, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also found "inadequate" passenger-handling staff at Delhi Airport's Terminal 1 during checks.
Regulatory request
IndiGo seeks regulatory relief, plans operational stabilization
In light of these disruptions, IndiGo has sought relief from regulations limiting pilot duty hours at night. The airline has also asked for time till February 10 to stabilize operations completely. Further cancellations are expected over the next few days as part of schedule stabilization efforts and flight reductions starting December 8.
Passenger outcry
Passengers express frustration over IndiGo's handling of disruptions
Passengers have taken to social media to express their frustration over the airline's handling of these disruptions. Many complained about miscommunication and a lack of clarity from the airline. A passenger tweeted about a delayed flight from Pune to Bengaluru, stating that they waited until 9:30am only to be told it was canceled. Another traveler wrote on social media about a flight from Pune to Kolkata being delayed by over six hours.
Apology issued
IndiGo apologizes, promises efforts to restore normalcy
IndiGo has apologized for the inconvenience caused and said its teams are working hard with support from various authorities to restore normalcy. In a post on X, it said, "We extend a heartfelt apology to all our customers and industry stakeholders who have been impacted by these events. IndiGo teams are working diligently and making all efforts with the support of MOCA, DGCA, BCAS, AAI, and airport operators to reduce the cascading impact of these delays and restore normalcy."
Twitter Post
Indigo's apology on X
The last two days have seen widespread disruption across IndiGo’s network and operations. We extend a heartfelt apology to all our customers and industry stakeholders who have been impacted by these events. IndiGo teams are working diligently and making all efforts with the…
— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) December 4, 2025