Sat Dec 06 03:10:00 UTC 2025: Summary:
IndiGo, India’s largest domestic carrier, is experiencing severe operational disruptions, canceling over 1,400 flights over two days (December 5th and 6th, 2025) across major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. The cancellations, blamed on crew shortages due to new flight duty and rest period rules, as well as technology glitches and weather, have left thousands of passengers stranded and airfares soaring. The situation has drawn criticism from politicians and industry experts alike, with some pointing to IndiGo’s management failures and the government’s aviation policies. To mitigate the crisis, the government has temporarily relaxed the new crew duty rules for IndiGo, and Indian Railways has added extra coaches to accommodate stranded air travelers. The airline has apologized, promising to normalize operations by mid-December, and passengers are facing chaos at airports, with some forced to miss important events.
News Article:
IndiGo Cancels Hundreds More Flights as Travel Chaos Grips India
New Delhi, December 6, 2025 – IndiGo, India’s leading domestic airline, has canceled over 400 flights today, adding to the 1,000 flights axed yesterday, plunging air travel across the country into further chaos. Major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad are experiencing severe disruptions, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and airfares skyrocketing to unprecedented levels.
The cancellations, attributed to a combination of factors including the recent implementation of court-mandated new flight duty and rest period (FDTL) norms for pilots, technology glitches, adverse weather conditions, and increased congestion, have drawn sharp criticism from all quarters.
“This is a management failure. IndiGo should have taken proactive steps,” said aviation expert Harsh Vardhan, pointing out that the FDTL policy was finalized a year ago. Politicians, including Congress MP Karti Chidambaram and Rahul Gandhi, have also weighed in, linking the crisis to alleged government failures and a “monopoly model” in the aviation sector.
Facing mounting pressure, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has temporarily exempted IndiGo from meeting the new FDTL regulations until February 10th. Meanwhile, Indian Railways is stepping in to alleviate the travel crunch, deploying 116 additional coaches on 37 trains across the country to accommodate stranded air passengers.
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers issued a video apology, acknowledging the “major inconvenience” caused to passengers. He stated that the airline is “rebooting” its systems and schedules and anticipates operations to normalize between December 10th and 15th.
The situation on the ground remains dire, with reports of long queues, emotional passengers, and canceled flights across numerous airports. Many travelers have been forced to seek alternative modes of transportation, leading to a surge in demand for charter jets and rail travel. The crisis is not just disrupting travel plans but also impacting personal events.
While IndiGo attempts to recover, passengers are urged to check their flight status before heading to the airport. The disruption serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within India’s aviation ecosystem and the importance of proactive planning and regulatory oversight.
First Piper 