A fresh wave of cancellations hits IndiGo — despite plans to fly 1,630 flights on Sunday, up to 650 were cancelled, with Delhi and Mumbai seeing 220 cancellations alone. Disruptions enter a sixth day amid regulatory pressure.
What Happened (As of early December 2025)
Surge in Cancellations despite Recovery Plans
- On 7 December 2025, IndiGo announced it planned to operate about 1,630 flights out of its typical ~2,300 daily schedule.
- However, even on this “recovery” day, the airline cancelled between 650 and 220 flights nationally — numbers vary slightly by reporting source.
- Major disruption remained at two of India’s busiest hubs: approximately 109 flights cancelled at Delhi’s IGI Airport and 112–146 at Mumbai airport.
Drop and Slight Rebound in On-Time Performance (OTP)
- On an earlier day — 5 December — OTP fell drastically to as low as 8.5% at major airports, marking one of the worst performance records in the airline’s history.
- By 7 December, IndiGo claimed OTP had improved to ~75%, indicating some stabilization.
Refunds, Baggage Handling, Customer Support — In Focus
- The airline says refund and baggage-handling processes are “in full action,” covering both direct and indirect bookings.
- A “Crisis Management Group” has been constituted by the parent company to oversee efforts to bring operations back on track.
Why This Crisis Hit Hard
New Crew Work-Time/Rest Rules (FDTL Norms)
- The disruptions stem primarily from stricter norms under DGCA’s Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), which came into full effect in 2025.
- These new rules required more rest for pilots and limited night-duty operations — increasing crew requirements drastically, which IndiGo claims it failed to plan for adequately.
- Faced with crew shortage and tighter duty constraints, IndiGo had to cancel a large number of flights across its network.
Compounded Systemic Strain
According to industry reporting, additional factors worsened the situation: technology issues (e.g. software patches for A320 fleet), seasonal schedule shifts, airport congestion, and weather/air-traffic control delays.
What Authorities and IndiGo Are Doing
- DGCA issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo’s top management, demanding explanations for the “massive disruptions.”
- Regulators have mandated that all pending refunds must be processed — and strongly urged IndiGo to resolve baggage-handling and passenger-support issues.
What It Means for Travellers
- If you’re flying with IndiGo in the coming days — especially on routes via Delhi or Mumbai — check your flight status carefully.
- Refunds or alternate arrangements are being processed — but delays remain possible if demand spikes.
- The disruption is a reminder that regulatory changes (like FDTL norms) can have cascading impacts on airline capacity, especially in a high-demand season.
December 2025’s crisis at IndiGo marks one of the most severe network-wide disruptions in Indian civil aviation. The coming days — and how efficiently refunds, rescheduling, and regulatory oversight play out — will determine whether the airline can regain traveller trust.
