India’s largest airline continued to face massive operational breakdowns, triggering frustration among travellers at major airports across the country. From piles of unattended suitcases to passengers waiting over 12 hours without food or clarity, the disruption stretched into its fourth consecutive day.
Long delays, no communication leave passengers anguished
Several travellers at Delhi airport described the situation as “mental torture”, as thousands of unclaimed suitcases lay scattered across the terminal. Many slept on the floor, while others expressed anger over the lack of communication from airline staff.
One flier said he had been waiting for over 12 hours without any explanation: “Every time they say one-hour or two-hour delays. We were going to a wedding but don’t even have our luggage.”
A passenger in Hyderabad recounted a similar ordeal, saying the flight was delayed indefinitely with no food, water, or updates from the airline. At the airport, some travellers blocked an Air India flight in protest over the lack of arrangements.
Goa and Chennai airports also witnessed tense moments. Videos from Goa showed fliers shouting at IndiGo staff as police attempted to calm the situation. At Chennai, CISF denied entry to IndiGo passengers due to heavy congestion.
Major metro airports impacted; cascading cancellations nationwide
Flight cancellations and delays were reported across multiple airports:
- Over 200 flights were cancelled in Delhi
- More than 100 each in Mumbai and Bengaluru
- Around 90 in Hyderabad
- Dozens more in Pune, Vishakhapatnam, Chennai and Bhopal
Pune airport stated that parking bay congestion worsened the situation, as several IndiGo aircraft remained grounded due to lack of crew. Other airlines continued operations without disruption.
Airport authorities said they had mobilised additional manpower for crowd control and passenger support.
IndiGo admits planning lapses, says more cancellations expected
The airline acknowledged a “misjudgment” in assessing crew requirements under revised night-duty norms, which it said created planning gaps. Winter weather and airport congestion further aggravated the crisis.
IndiGo informed the aviation ministry and DGCA that some regulatory changes—such as the shift in night-duty timings and a cap on night landings—have been rolled back temporarily to stabilise operations.
The airline warned that cancellations may continue for another two to three days, and from December 8, schedules will be trimmed to prevent further disruption.
In a message to employees, CEO Pieter Elbers said restoring punctuality would not be an “easy target”.
Airline issues apology amid nationwide frustration
In a late-night statement, IndiGo apologised to customers and industry partners, acknowledging the widespread inconvenience caused by the disruptions. The airline said all teams were working with authorities to bring operations back to normal.