Air travel across India remained severely disrupted for a fourth consecutive day, with IndiGo — the country’s largest airline — cancelling more than 1,000 flights on Friday, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded nationwide The Indian Express Firstpost.
Major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and Chennai reported widespread cancellations, long queues, missing luggage and severe congestion as the airline struggled to stabilise operations News18 The Indian Express.
TODAY’S CANCELLATION & DELAY DATA
✅ Nationwide Impact (as of Friday/Saturday)
- 1,000+ IndiGo flights cancelled on Friday alone — the highest single‑day cancellation count in the airline’s 20‑year history News18 The Indian Express
- 400+ additional cancellations reported early Saturday across four major airports The Times of India
- Delhi Airport: 135 departures and 90 arrivals cancelled in one morning, making it the worst‑hit airport Hindustan Times
- Pune Airport: 16 arrivals + 16 departures cancelled between midnight and 8am Friday The Times of India
- Nationwide delays: Hundreds of flights delayed 2–12 hours across major hubs The Indian Express
✅ Passenger Impact
- Over 2.5 lakh (250,000+) passengers affected in a single day according to airport and airline estimates Times Now
- Reports of no prior cancellation notices, long queues, and lack of food/accommodation at several airports India Today
WHY THIS IS HAPPENING
✅ 1. Crew Shortages Triggered by New Pilot Duty Rules
IndiGo admitted it miscalculated crew requirements under newly revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) — leading to a severe pilot shortage and mass cancellations News18 Hindustan Times.
✅ 2. Winter Weather + Airport Congestion
Fog and seasonal congestion at Delhi and northern airports compounded delays and cancellations News18.
✅ 3. Emergency “System Reboot”
IndiGo initiated an internal network reset, cancelling hundreds of flights to stabilise schedules after four days of chaos The Indian Express.
✅ 4. Regulatory Intervention
The DGCA:
- Relaxed FDTL rules temporarily to help IndiGo recover Hindustan Times
- Ordered a high‑level probe into the airline’s operational failures News18 The Economic Times
- Demanded a 30‑day recovery roadmap and fortnightly updates The Times of India
FORECAST: WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT (NEXT 24–72 HOURS)
✅ Short‑Term (Today & Tomorrow)
- More cancellations likely, though numbers may gradually decline as crew availability improves India Today
- Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad expected to remain the most disrupted hubs The Indian Express
✅ Medium‑Term (Next 7–10 Days)
- IndiGo CEO says normal schedules may only return by December 15 India Today
- DGCA monitoring could lead to further operational restrictions if recovery stalls The Economic Times
✅ Airfare Surge
With IndiGo grounding hundreds of flights, Air India, Akasa and SpiceJet fares have skyrocketed, with some domestic routes costing more than international return tickets Goodreturns.
ADVICE FOR TRAVELLERS IN INDIA TODAY
✅ 1. Check Flight Status Constantly
IndiGo’s schedules are changing hour‑to‑hour.
Use:
- Airline website/app
- Airport social media handles
- SMS/email alerts
✅ 2. Arrive Early
Expect long queues at check‑in and security.
Arrive 3–4 hours before domestic departures.
✅ 3. Keep Essentials Handy
Carry:
- Power bank
- Snacks/water
- Medications
- Printed tickets & ID
✅ 4. Know Your Rights
DGCA has mandated:
- Automatic refunds for all cancelled flights News18
- Hotel accommodation for stranded passengers in some cases The Times of India
✅ 5. Consider Alternatives
- Trains: Indian Railways has added extra coaches on key routes to help stranded passengers Hindustan Times
- Other airlines: Check fares but expect surge pricing.
✅ 6. Avoid Tight Connections
Do not book same‑day connections (domestic or international).
Delays of 6–12 hours remain common.
BOTTOM LINE
India is experiencing one of its worst aviation disruptions in decades, driven by a mix of crew shortages, regulatory changes and winter congestion. While the situation may improve gradually, significant cancellations and delays are expected to continue through the weekend, with full normalcy unlikely before mid‑December.
