IndiGo Cancels Over 400 Flights Nationwide, Thousands Stranded
India’s biggest airline paralyses travel plans with massive cancellations.
IndiGo, India’s dominant low-cost carrier with over 60 percent domestic market share, plunged into severe operational turmoil on Friday, cancelling more than 400 scheduled flights and delaying hundreds more across the country. The unprecedented scale of disruption has left thousands of passengers stranded, furious and scrambling for alternatives during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport suffered the maximum impact, with over 220 departures and arrivals abruptly scrapped, while Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport saw more than 100 flights grounded and Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport recorded over 90 cancellations. Significant cancellations also hit Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and other tier-1 stations, effectively crippling IndiGo’s nationwide network for the day.
Passengers reported chaotic scenes at terminals: long queues at check-in counters, repeated gate changes, and last-minute cancellations announced only after hours of waiting. Many took to social media to share images of overcrowded airports and express outrage over lack of timely communication and inadequate ground assistance from the airline.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation have placed IndiGo under intense scrutiny, demanding daily updates on rectification steps. Sources indicate the primary trigger remains an acute shortage of cabin crew compounded by roster mismanagement and higher-than-normal sick leave, issues that have plagued the airline for several days running.
In a formal submission to the regulator on Thursday evening, IndiGo admitted that complete normalisation of its flight schedule will not be achieved before February 10, 2026. The admission signals that travellers could face recurring cancellations and delays for weeks as the airline struggles to rebuild crew strength and stabilise operations.
Also Read: IndiGo CEO Admits Could Not Live Up To Promise As Hundreds Cancelled
