The three-day operational collapse of IndiGo marks one of the worst disruptions in recent years. Crew shortages triggered by new duty-time rules, compounded by technical and scheduling issues, have left thousands of travellers stranded. With cancellations continuing and public frustration mounting, all eyes are now on how quickly IndiGo — and regulators — can restore normalcy before the winter travel season intensifies
New Delhi / Across India — December 4, 2025
On the third consecutive day, IndiGo — India’s largest domestic airline — is reeling under massive operational disruptions as dozens of flights are cancelled or delayed, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at airports nationwide.
What’s Happening
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On December 4 alone, at least 175–180 flights were cancelled across major hubs including New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Pune, Kolkata and othersEarlier days saw hundreds more cancellations — estimates indicate over 300 flight cancellations in the past two days, along with hundreds of delays.
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On-time performance dropped sharply to around 35%, a huge fall from IndiGo’s normal punctuality record.
Why This Is Happening
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The chaos stems primarily from a severe crew shortage, especially pilots and cabin crew, after new duty-time regulations — the Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms — came into effect recently.IAdditional issues: technical glitches, airport congestion, schedule mismanagement, and winter-season related challenges also contributed to the disruptions.
Passenger Impact & Reactions
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Airports witnessed chaos: long queues, angry passengers, frequent gate changes, and little information. Many stranded travellers reportedly waited 8–12 hours or more, missing onward flights and connections.
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Some passengers described the scene as “total chaos,” blaming lack of communication and insufficient arrangements for those stranded overnight.