IndiGo Cancels Hundreds of Flights as India Faces Travel Chaos

Published: 05 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

India’s travel chaos worsened on Friday as the country’s largest airline, IndiGo, cancelled hundreds of scheduled flights following three days of widespread disruption across its network. The airline, which controls around 60% of the domestic market and operates more than 2,000 flights daily, has been struggling with pilot shortages after failing to adjust to new crew rostering rules.

Thousands of passengers were stranded across India during a busy travel season, with all flights from the capital, Delhi, being cancelled. IndiGo announced that operations are expected to return to full normalcy only by 10 February and has sought temporary relief from the new regulations requiring longer rest hours and restricted night duties.

From 8 December, the airline said it would reduce flight operations to minimise further disruptions. The government has confirmed that it is closely monitoring the situation, with the federal aviation minister expressing “clear displeasure” over the airline’s handling of the crisis.

India’s aviation regulator attributed the disruption primarily to “misjudgment and planning gaps” in implementing the new flight duty time limitation rules. IndiGo has been instructed to submit a detailed plan covering crew recruitment, training, roster restructuring, safety-risk assessments, and other mitigation measures immediately.

Local media reports suggest that IndiGo has been granted a waiver from the new pilot rest rules, with some easing of restrictions on combining pilot leave with weekly rest. However, the Airline Pilots Association of India has sharply criticised this, warning that any concessions undermine the spirit of the regulations and “gravely” compromise passenger safety.

Under the new rules, pilots are given increased rest periods, including a requirement to conduct only two night-time landings per week, down from six under the previous system. December is a peak travel month in India due to school holidays and the wedding season.

IndiGo announced that it would waive all cancellation and rescheduling fees for travel between 5 and 15 December. The airline is also arranging hotel accommodations and meals for affected passengers. Despite this, social media has been flooded with complaints from passengers who report being stranded without adequate information or food at airports.

Singapore’s High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong, expressed frustration after missing a staff member’s wedding while stranded at the airport. Major airports in Delhi, Mumbai, and other cities have issued advisories urging travelers to check the status of their flights before leaving for the airport.

The ongoing disruption highlights both operational challenges and regulatory adjustments in India’s aviation sector. Authorities, airlines, and passengers alike are navigating a difficult period as the travel season peaks, with widespread implications for domestic and international travel.