India’s largest airline, IndiGo, is facing major trouble as flight delays and cancellations continue across the country. Passengers in cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Hyderabad have been badly affected. Many people were left waiting at airports for hours, while some flights were cancelled without proper notice.
The airline said the problems started because of many reasons happening at the same time. These include staff shortage, new duty rules for pilots and crew, small technical issues, weather problems, and changes in the winter flight schedule.
Passengers Face Long Waits and Confusion
Many passengers shared their anger on social media. Some said they missed important meetings, family events, and connecting flights. Families with children and elderly people were seen waiting at airports with no clear answers.
In Hyderabad alone, more than 40 IndiGo flights were cancelled in one day. Bengaluru airport also saw over 40 arrivals and departures cancelled. Kolkata had at least 10 flights cancelled on both sides (arrival and departure).
What IndiGo Said
IndiGo released a statement saying it was sorry for the trouble caused to passengers. The airline said the last two days have been very difficult for its operations across the country.
It also said it is changing flight schedules and working day and night to bring things back to normal. However, it warned that delays and cancellations may continue for another 48 hours.
DGCA Starts Investigation
The aviation regulator, DGCA, has started an investigation into the matter. The regulator has asked IndiGo to explain why so many flights were cancelled and what steps it is taking to stop the problem from getting worse.
DGCA has also asked the airline to submit a clear plan to fix the situation.
Crew Shortage a Major Reason
One of the biggest reasons for the chaos is the shortage of pilots and cabin crew. New rules now limit how long crew members can work. Because of these new limits, many crew members were not available at short notice, leading to flight cancellations.
IndiGo said these new rules reduced crew availability more than expected.
Flights Were Already Being Cancelled in November
The problem is not new. In November alone, IndiGo cancelled more than 1,200 flights. Many of these were cancelled because of crew shortage and duty time limits.
The airline usually runs over 2,200 flights daily. But on December 2, its on-time performance dropped to just 35%. This means most of its flights were late that day.
More Problems Added to the Crisis
Along with staff shortage, other issues made the problem worse. These include:
- Small technical problems in systems
- Bad weather in some areas
- Busy air traffic
- Winter schedule changes
All these together caused a big breakdown in flight operations.
Passengers Asked to Check Flight Status
IndiGo has advised passengers to check their flight status before leaving for the airport. The airline said it will keep updating people through messages and its website.
For now, air travel with IndiGo remains uncertain, and thousands of passengers continue to face trouble across India.
