Turbulence Continues: IndiGo Grounds Hundreds of Flights as Crisis Enters Second Week
Over 350 flights grounded as airline crisis enters seventh day.
The unprecedented chaos surrounding India's largest airline shows no signs of slowing down. As the new week began, passengers faced yet another day of uncertainty with widespread disruptions across the aviation network. On Monday, the crisis extended into its seventh consecutive day, resulting in a staggering number of grounded aircraft and stranded travelers.
Reports confirm that over 350 flights were dropped from the schedule today alone. The impact was felt most acutely at major metropolitan hubs. Delhi Airport was the hardest hit, witnessing the cancellation of 134 flights—comprising 75 departures and 59 arrivals. Bengaluru followed closely with 127 cancellations, while Chennai reported 71 disrupted services. The ripple effect was also felt in neighboring regions, with Visakhapatnam (Vizag) seeing seven cancellations and Kolkata also experiencing significant operational issues.
This ongoing turmoil has forced the airline to shell out massive amounts in compensation. According to recent data, the carrier has processed ticket refunds amounting to Rs 610 crore to pacify affected customers. Additionally, the airline claims to have successfully returned 3,000 pieces of baggage that were previously stuck in transit.
What Caused the Meltdown?
The root of these IndiGo flight cancellations lies in a severe shortage of cockpit crew. The disruption was triggered following the implementation of new government mandates regarding pilot rest periods, known as the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL). While the government has since stepped in to pause these rules in hopes of restoring normalcy by December 10, the immediate operational damage remains severe.
Government Steps In
The Civil Aviation Ministry is closely monitoring the situation. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has stated that a high-level inquiry is underway, emphasizing that the airline had ample time—over a year—to prepare for the pilot rostering changes.
Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has tightened the screws on the airline's leadership. The regulatory body granted a brief extension to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers to respond to show-cause notices regarding the collapse of services. The deadline for this response was set for Monday evening.
For now, Delhi Airport has issued a fresh advisory urging all passengers to verify their flight status before heading to the terminal, as operational challenges remain high.
