IndiGo Crisis: Over 1,000 Flights Cancelled, DGCA Withdraws Pilots' Rest Norm, Chaos at Airports

New Delhi: In what is being likened to a "meltdown", IndiGo’s nationwide operational distress has led to hundreds upon hundreds of flight cancellations as it entered its fourth straight day today. Social media has been full of footage of thousands of stranded passengers and mounds of luggage, along with post after post essaying the grave troubles that the cancellations have thrown people into. Some news outlets are reporting that a total of 1,300 flights have been cancelled.

Many have written that they expect accountability from an airline known for its timeliness. IndiGo has a near monopoly of India's airline sector.

"Today should be the day with the highest number of cancellations, as we are doing all that is necessary to reboot all our systems and schedules for progressive improvement starting tomorrow. Our teams are working to reinstate regular operations in alignment with the Ministry and DGCA. Short-term proactive cancellations are being made to ease operations, decongest the airports to prepare for starting stronger tomorrow," IndiGo said in a note on social media.

Indeed, cancellation announcements have come thick and fast, like this one by the Delhi Airport, saying that no IndiGo plane will leave the Delhi airport for a full day today.

Passenger Advisory issued at 11:10 Hours#DelhiAirport #PassengerAdvisory #DELAdvisory pic.twitter.com/dZBdrW5aob

— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) December 5, 2025

IndiGo's absence and cancellations have led to other carriers bumping up their prices to extraordinary amounts. The Wire found that the prices of flights today between two metro cities, Mumbai and Kolkata, started from Rs 71,559.

Delhi to Kochi: ₹40,000
Delhi to London: ₹25,000

Mumbai to Guwahati: ₹30,000
Mumbai to Dubai (DXB): ₹15,000

MESSAGE IS CLEAR.🔥 pic.twitter.com/5fiHh6erIL

— Mohit Chauhan (@mohitlaws) December 4, 2025

Hindustan Times reported that the airline’s trouble began earlier this week after an Airbus A320 software update advisory caused a chain of delays, pushing several flights into late-night operations.

Then kicked in the tightened Flight Duty Time Limitations norms that determine how long pilots can be on duty, how many hours they can fly, how many night landings they may perform, and the minimum rest they must receive.

Under the circumstances, the DGCA has issued a letter of withdrawal of instructions on pilots' weekly rest to "ensure continuity of operations in view of current disruptions." The earlier norm had called for 48 consecutive hours of weekly rest for pilots.

The Morning Context has reported, however, that the real trigger behind the crisis may not have been the FDTL norms or the technical glitches that IndiGo itself pointed to a statement on December 3. The report points to a cabin crew recruitment drive held by an international airline in Mumbai this week.

“A lot of cabin crew from IndiGo had taken off to attend the recruitment camp organized by this airline. With all the other factors in play, the shortage of cabin crew set off the chaos in the airline’s operations,” a senior executive told Morning Context.

Kids waiting since 4 am for their @IndiGo6E flight at DEL T1
Hungry, tired & sleepy pic.twitter.com/SsYEn168E2

— Saurabh Sinha (@27saurabhsinha) December 5, 2025

A newly wed techie couple forced to attend their own reception online after their Indigo flights from Bhubaneswar-Hubbali were cancelled. The bride’s parents having already invited relatives decided to broadcast their live feed on a big screen. #IndigoDelay #FlightCancellations pic.twitter.com/jO7lTgm8lZ

— Deepak Bopanna (@dpkBopanna) December 5, 2025

Stranded passengers at Swami Vivekananda Airport, in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, late Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. Photo: PTI.

IndiGo said in its note that it will ensure refunds and offer a full waiver on cancellation and rescheduling requests till December 15. It says:

• We will ensure that all refunds for your cancellations will be processed automatically to your original mode of payment
• We will offer full waiver on all cancellations/reschedule requests of your bookings for travel between 05 December 2025 to 15 December 2025
• Thousands of hotel rooms across cities and surface transport have been arranged for the convenience of our customers
• We are trying to ensure that food and snacks are being provided to our waiting customers at the airports
• Lounge access is being arranged for senior citizens, wherever possible

"We will do everything to earn back your trust and the love you have showered on us in the last 19 years and we can’t lose it at any cost," it noted.

IndiGo along with Spicejet were among aviation companies that purchased the highest amount of electoral bonds, it was reported in 2024.

Through its parent company InterGlobe Aviation and related entities – InterGlobe Air Transport and InterGlobe Real Estate Ventures – bought bonds worth Rs 36 crores in 2019 and late 2023. Rahul Bhatia, a promoter for IndiGo, bought bonds worth Rs 20 crore in April 2021.

Stranded at the airport because IndiGo cancelled the Delhi–Mangalore flight last second. No proper assistance, no plan, no empathy. This isn’t acceptable for an airline of your scale.#IndigoDelay @IndiGo6E #DelhiAirport pic.twitter.com/ggZhkWy0Py

— mohammed najeeb (@najeebsajipa) December 4, 2025

For flights booked through February—when operations stabilise—@IndiGo6E should issue timely refunds instead of leaving passengers to last-minute uncertainty and chaos at airports. @DGCAIndia must step in decisively. #IndiGoDelay pic.twitter.com/Ryrs5p1lm5

— N.S. Madhavan (@NSMlive) December 5, 2025

People are stranded at blr airport for past 16-17hrs. Not a single flight is taking off. Ppl are struggling for cancellation too and no one is here to help. People are shouting slogans. @IndiGo6E what mess have you created!! #IndigoDelay #indigo6e pic.twitter.com/tvCr9L5d6y

— sumeet sethy (@sumeetsethy) December 5, 2025

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.