India’s busiest airline, IndiGo, is facing severe turbulence—not in the skies but on the ground. For the second consecutive day, airports across major cities descended into confusion as the carrier cancelled and delayed dozens of flights, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and frustrated.
The disruptions, which began on Wednesday with over 150 cancelled flights, spilled well into Thursday as IndiGo continued battling a crippling crew shortage intensified by newly enforced crew rostering rules.
Passengers Share Ordeal on Social Media
There was little respite on Thursday morning. Long lines, unanswered questions, and uncertainty characterized the traveler experience at airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
Investor Anand Sridharan used X to describe a strange series of events: personnel informed customers that their captain was absent, but his 7 a.m. flight seemed to be “on time” on display boards.
“Screaming passengers.” Others shooting the screaming,” he wrote, capturing the rising tension.
Chaos took another turn when the captain was eventually found; additional delays were apparently caused by the first officer’s unavailability.
Another X user, Aaraynsh, described the situation at Delhi Airport as a “mess.” After multiple cancellations, he finally boarded—only to sit on the runway for nearly an hour because a cabin crew member had been left behind.
With people rushing for weddings, job commitments, exams, and medical appointments, frustration mounted as customer care lines stretched to 20-minute wait times.
IndiGo Issues Apology, Warns of More Cancellations
Acknowledging the network-wide meltdown, IndiGo issued an apology and warned travellers of additional delays and cancellations over the next 48 hours. The airline said it had initiated “calibrated adjustments” to stabilise operations.
According to IndiGo, several factors combined to trigger this large-scale disruption, including:
Minor tech glitches
Seasonal schedule changes
Weather-related concerns
High airspace congestion
Newly implemented Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules
These issues, the airline said, created a “compounding impact” that was “impossible to anticipate.”
Heavy Disruptions Affect Major Airports
More than 100 flights were canceled on Wednesday alone, according to airport sources:
42 cancellations in Bengaluru
Delhi: 38
Mumbai: 33
Hyderabad: 19
Because IndiGo operates around 2,300 flights every day, even minor disruptions can cause pandemonium across the country. The last two days have demonstrated how easily schedules can fall apart.
What Travelers Can Expect Next
IndiGo has asked travellers to: Check flight status before departing for the airport
Expect possible scheduling modifications
Arrive early to prevent missing updated boarding times
Air travel may remain chaotic into Friday as the company attempts to adjust crew schedules and stabilise flights.