IndiGo Cancels 240 More Flights as Nationwide Disruption Continues

IndiGo Disruption Widens with Over 4,500 Flights Cancelled and Winter Schedule Reduced

The Indigo Flight Status crisis intensified on Tuesday with 240 fresh cancellations, leaving passengers across major airports managing sudden schedule changes. Bengaluru faced the largest impact with 121 cancellations, while Hyderabad, Chennai, and Ahmedabad also saw significant disruptions. 

Officials confirmed that IndiGo’s winter schedule of 2,200 daily flights will be reduced after continued operational challenges throughout the past week.

Government Blames IndiGo’s Internal Planning for Widespread Disruptions

Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu told Parliament that IndiGo did not raise any concerns during an operational meeting held on December 1. He stated that the delays and cancellations were linked to the airline’s struggle to implement the updated Flight Duty Time Limitations, which were introduced to improve pilot rest periods. According to him, the airline’s internal crew-planning system was unable to adjust quickly, resulting in widespread delays.

Over 4,500 IndiGo Flights Cancelled Since Last Week Amid Pilot Shortage

Fresh Indigo Flight Status Today reports confirmed more than 4,500 cancellations since December 2. The worst day came on Friday, when around 1,600 flights were grounded. Analysts at Moody’s warned that the disruptions could lead to significant financial losses from refunds and compensation claims. IndiGo said it has already refunded Rs. 827 crore and delivered over 4,500 delayed bags to passengers across various cities.

Ministry Deploys Senior Officers for Airport Checks Across 10 Cities

To address the growing concerns, the government deployed senior officers to major airports in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Pune to inspect on-ground conditions. A civil aviation ministry official said operations were “almost back to normal,” noting that IndiGo operated over 1,800 flights on Monday. Other airlines reported smooth operations with full schedules throughout the same period.

Why IndiGo’s Disruptions Matter and What Comes Next

The ongoing disruptions are a clear indication of the extent to which the problems of one airline can impact the entire national aviation system. Since IndiGo is the airline with the highest domestic passenger load, any operational issues will trigger a chain of delays and cancellations at all major Indian airports. 

The winter schedule reduction may give the airline some temporary relief, but the long-term stability is reliant on the return of the crew to the different stations and the regaining of passenger confidence. Further changes are expected as the regulators will be monitoring the case closely throughout the week.