Sat Dec 06 15:31:52 UTC 2025: News Article:
IndiGo Flight Disruptions Cripple Indian Tourism During Peak Season
Thiruvananthapuram, December 6, 2025 – India’s tourism industry is facing a significant setback as widespread flight disruptions by IndiGo are causing massive cancellations and impacting both domestic and international travelers during the peak tourist season.
The crisis, which began recently, has left tour operators scrambling to make alternative arrangements and incurring significant losses. George Scaria, Managing Director of Keralavoyages India, recounted having to charter a luxury bus for a Polish tour group after their IndiGo flight was canceled, costing his company ₹3 lakh.
Hotels and resorts are also feeling the pinch, with Vinod Vattekkat, General Manager of Clouds Valley Leisure Hotel in Munnar, reporting a surge in cancellations. Group bookings are being dropped entirely, while individual travelers are attempting to reschedule.
The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) is calling on the central government to intervene urgently and restore normalcy. E.M. Najeeb, Senior Vice President of IATO, warned that even a quick resolution may not be enough to salvage the season.
The crisis comes at a particularly inopportune time, as foreign tourist arrivals were already down in the first three quarters of 2025, with 69.8 lakh visitors compared to 76.81 lakh in the same period last year. The industry had hoped for a strong showing this season, bolstered by a favorable exchange rate. Kerala, in particular, was making a comeback, driven by domestic tourism after seeing 2.2 crore domestic tourists in 2024, though international recovery remained at just 62% of pre-COVID levels.
The tourism industry is now bracing for a challenging period, hoping for a swift resolution to the IndiGo disruptions to mitigate further damage during this crucial time.
First Piper 