Major airports across India descended into chaos on Wednesday after the country's largest airline, IndiGo, cancelled at least 150 flights, leaving thousands of travellers stranded.
Widespread Cancellations and Passenger Chaos
The cancellations severely impacted key hubs including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. According to figures, IndiGo cancelled 67 flights at Delhi airport, 40 at Hyderabad, 33 at Mumbai, and 62 at Bengaluru.
Terminals were scenes of frustration and confusion as passengers crowded around airline counters seeking information. Many were seen anxiously checking their phones while trying to get answers from overwhelmed staff. Departure boards displayed long lists of cancelled and delayed flights.
"The 6pm flight is delayed by two hours, and even that gate has changed four times," complained Rakesh Bhanushali, a chartered accountant from Mumbai. "We are relying on staff completely. Staff are cooperating but are frankly saying they are not aware what's happening."
Mounting Pressure and Regulatory Scrutiny
This latest incident piles pressure on the carrier, which cancelled a staggering 1,232 flights in November alone. The national civil aviation regulator has now demanded a report from IndiGo on the recent network disruption.
In a statement, the regulator said: "The inconvenience caused to passengers is regretted. Travellers are advised to verify flight status through official channels before departure. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is currently investigating the situation and evaluating measures along with the airline to reduce cancellations and delays."
IndiGo apologised to customers, citing a combination of factors including adverse weather, air traffic congestion, and the implementation of new government-mandated crew rostering rules designed to ensure adequate rest for pilots and cabin crew.
Underlying Operational Challenges
The new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules have reportedly complicated roster management for the airline, which was already grappling with a pilot shortage. Of the November cancellations, 755 were directly attributed to these new rest rules.
The scale of the problem is significant given IndiGo's market dominance. The carrier holds about a 60 per cent share of the domestic market, operating over 2,200 flights daily.
Performance metrics have plummeted amidst the crisis. Government data showed IndiGo's on-time performance was only around 35 per cent on Tuesday, the lowest of all Indian airlines and a sharp fall from its typical rate of above 80 per cent at major airports this year.
