Flight Operations Stabilize at Chandigarh Airport With Major Drop in IndiGo Cancellations

Chandigarh International Airport officially declared the IndiGo crisis over on Thursday, December 11, 2025, with operations returning to near-normal levels after one of the worst weeks in its history. Out of 29 scheduled IndiGo flights on Thursday, only four—to Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi—were cancelled, a sharp drop from the peak of 32 cancellations on December 5 and 25 on December 6. Passenger footfall, which had dipped to 3,200 on the worst day, rebounded to 4,454 on December 10 and was expected to touch 4,500 on Thursday, signalling a full recovery.

The week-long meltdown began on December 3 when a combination of technical glitches in IndiGo’s crew rostering software, severe fog across northern India, and a sudden spike in crew sick leave triggered a domino effect of cancellations and delays nationwide. Chandigarh, heavily dependent on IndiGo for over 70 per cent of its flights, bore the brunt, with hundreds of passengers stranded daily, many forced to sleep on terminal floors.

Airport authorities responded swiftly by deploying extra manpower— “May I Help You” counters, Digi Buddies, and dedicated IndiGo helpdesks—while converting the first check-in row into a crisis resolution centre. Special attention was given to senior citizens, families, and persons with reduced mobility, with priority boarding and queue management. The measures helped ease chaos and earned praise from travellers who had faced long waits and unclear communication earlier in the week.

Also Read: IndiGo Cancels Over 90 Flights Nationwide, Sparking Major Travel Disruptions

IndiGo moved quickly on the compensation front. The airline confirmed that full refunds for all cancelled flights have been initiated and will reflect within 7–10 days. Additionally, passengers stranded for over six hours on December 3, 4, and 5 are being issued ₹10,000 travel vouchers valid for 12 months, while those whose flights were cancelled within 24 hours of departure will receive cash compensation between ₹5,000 and ₹10,000 depending on block time, in line with DGCA guidelines.

Baggage reunion efforts are also nearing completion. As of Thursday evening, only 31 bags remained to be handed over after being flown in from other stations. On December 10 alone, 51 delayed bags were delivered, 36 of them directly to passengers’ homes through courier tie-ups, a service the airport plans to continue until the backlog is cleared.

With normalcy restored, Chandigarh Airport management and IndiGo officials have thanked passengers for their patience and promised enhanced contingency protocols for future disruptions. The episode, while painful, has highlighted the need for stronger redundancies in India’s aviation ecosystem as passenger traffic continues its post-pandemic surge. For now, the terminal is once again buzzing with regular announcements, on-time departures, and relieved travellers heading home for the holiday season.

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi Criticises Centre’s Monopoly After IndiGo Cancels Flights Over Crew Shortages