India’s largest airline, IndiGo, is facing one of the most significant operational disruptions in recent years, with over 550 flights cancelled nationwide in a single day. The airline issued a public apology as passengers across major metro airports reported long queues, delayed schedules, missed connections, and last-minute flight cancellations.
According to early assessments, the large-scale disruption originated from a severe crew availability mismatch, triggered by a chain reaction of delays from the previous days. A section of crew reportedly took sudden sick leave, worsening the situation and leaving the airline with limited manpower to operate scheduled flights. While IndiGo has not confirmed the internal cause officially, aviation sources suggest the cancellations were unavoidable due to “unexpected operational stress.”
Passengers at airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata expressed frustration as they struggled to rebook flights amid limited availability and rising ticket prices. Social media was flooded with complaints, photos of chaotic airport scenes, and demands for compensation.
In its official statement, IndiGo said it is “working around the clock to stabilise operations” and added that affected passengers will receive rebooking assistance or refunds as per policy. DGCA, India’s aviation regulator, has sought a detailed explanation from the airline regarding the disruption scale and passenger handling process.
Industry analysts note that such operational breakdowns highlight the increasing stress on India’s aviation sector, where rising demand is putting pressure on airline crew schedules and fleet availability. As the holiday season approaches, experts caution that airlines may need to reassess capacity planning and workforce deployment to avoid future collapses.
While operations are gradually recovering, IndiGo has urged passengers to check flight status before leaving for the airport. With the airline handling nearly 2000 daily flights, it may take up to 48 hours to fully normalise its network.
