Over 300 IndiGo flights cancelled; flyers stranded at airports, travel plans affected — what unfolded in last 48 hours

SEVERAL travellers across India have been left in the lurch as travel plans continue to be affected amid the ongoing operational disruptions at IndiGo airline on its third day, with many passengers remaining stranded at various airports on Thursday.

Over 300 domestic and international flights have been cancelled in the last two days.

Replying to several social media users who have criticised IndiGo, the airline stated that it regrets the inconvenience caused by the flight delay, saying that disrupting customers’ travel plans is never its intention.

“Our operations are dependent on several factors, some of which are beyond our control and may impact the schedule. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to serving you better in the future,” reads one of the responses.

As the airline continues to grapple with flight disruptions, here is a look at how things unfolded in the last 48 hours as the airline faces an acute crew shortage since the implementation of the second phase of the FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limitations) norms.

In a statement to staff, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said that the immediate goal is to normalise operations, bring punctuality back on track, which is not an easy target.

“We could not live up to (the) promise of providing (a) good experience to customers,” added Elbers.

Flights cancelled

— Till Thursday, the airline has cancelled over 300 domestic and international flights.

— Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore were among the several airports which saw the disruption.

— At least 95 flights were cancelled at the Delhi airport, 85 at the Mumbai airport, 70 at Hyderabad and 50 at Bangalore, reported PTI, quoting sources.

What did IndiGo say?

The airline did not issue any fresh statement about flight cancellations or delays on Thursday. In a statement on Wednesday, the airline flagged various challenges, including minor technology glitches, schedule changes linked to the winter season, adverse weather conditions, increased congestion in the aviation system and the implementation of updated crew rostering rules (FDTL) had a negative compounding impact on our operations in a way that was not feasible to be anticipated.

The airline's spokesperson said that the airline is offering alternate flight options or refunds to affected customers, as applicable.

“We regret the inconvenience caused to our valued customers due to these disruptions. We request customers to check the latest flight status at https://www.goindigo.in/check-flightstatus.html before heading to the airport, to help us minimise inconvenience.”

What did the Pilots' Association of India say?

The operational disruptions at IndiGo due to crew issues highlight a failure of proactive resource planning by dominant airlines, according to the Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA).

It also claimed that there could be an effort to pressurise the regulator, DGCA, to dilute the new flight duty time limitation norms.

What did aviation watchdog DGCA say?

On Wednesday, the DGCA asked IndiGo to submit the reasons for the current situation and stated that it is investigating the IndiGo flight disruptions.

The aviation watchdog has also requested that the airline present a plan to reduce flight cancellations and delays.

“IndiGo has been asked to report to DGCA, Headquarters, to present the facts leading to the current situation along with plans to mitigate the ongoing delays and cancellations,” it said.

The DGCA said a total of 1,232 flights were cancelled in November, including 755 flights due to crew and FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limitations) constraints.

Chaos at the airports

Meanwhile, chaos gripped several airports as flights got delayed and cancelled.

Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said that she has repeatedly raised concerns about the duopoly that prevails in the air industry, which leads to higher airfares, poor infrastructure, and flight cancellations.

“It’s a shame and I hope the aviation minister will give a suo moto statement on this issue in the parliament.”

“Flights getting cancelled one after another, chaos at the gates, passengers arguing with crew, zero communication. My own flight has been delayed with no clarity, we’ve been at the airport for 2 hours just waiting for any update,” said Arun Prabhudesai, sharing photos and videos from the airport.

A crowd at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow chanted slogans against the airline.

“@IndiGo just announced cancellation of Kolkata Delhi flight and generously offered refund. I had to pay 2x the amount to book another flight. Who will pay the extra cost. Absolute mismanagement by #1 airline. Shameful. Board should resign if they cannot manage,” said an X user Pramod Agarwal.

Another X user said, “Never seen this kind of continued chaos limited to one airline. The Indian consumer is paying the price of a monopolistic market today.”

“My @IndiGo6E flight has been delayed for more than 8 hours, yet they are not offering any help to the passengers. At the very least, they should offer meals to their flyers. Pathetic service of IndiGo,” said Shubham Sharma.

Delhi Airport issues advisory

One domestic carrier is currently experiencing operational issues, resulting in flight delays and schedule adjustments. Please be assured that our dedicated on-ground teams are diligently collaborating with all airport stakeholders to mitigate disruption and facilitate a seamless passenger flow. We advise passengers to check with their respective airlines for the latest updates, Delhi Airport stated.

Cochin Airport issues advisory

In its statement, Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) said, “Certain domestic airlines are currently experiencing operational constraints, affecting services nationwide. CIAL is in continuous coordination with airline operations teams to support passengers and ensure the smooth functioning of airport services. Passengers are advised to verify the latest flight information with their respective airline.”