New Delhi/Mumbai – India’s biggest airline, IndiGo, is still facing big problems. On Sunday, it cancelled more than 650 flights out of its usual 2,300 daily flights. This is the sixth day of trouble, and thousands of passengers are stuck at airports across the country. Long lines, angry people, and high ticket prices on other airlines have made things very hard for travellers.
IndiGo flies about 60% of all domestic passengers in India. The problem started early this week because of new rules on how long pilots and crew can work. These are called Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms. The rules were made to keep crew safe and rested, but IndiGo says it faced sudden crew shortage when the second phase started.
Why So Many Cancellations?
The airline says a mix of things caused the mess – new crew rules, some tech issues, and bad weather in some places. But the government says IndiGo did not plan well. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) gave some relaxations to IndiGo on the new rules, but still issued a show-cause notice to CEO Pieter Elbers. They asked why strict action should not be taken.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said on X: “The Ministry has directed IndiGo to clear all pending passenger refunds without delay. The refund process for all cancelled or disrupted flights must be completed by 8:00 PM on Sunday, 7 December 2025.”
He added that airlines cannot charge for rescheduling tickets for affected passengers. Baggage that got separated must reach homes within 48 hours.
Government Steps In to Help Passengers
o stop other airlines from charging too much because of less flights, the government put caps on ticket prices on December 6:
- Up to 500 km: Maximum Rs 7,500
- 500-1,000 km: Rs 12,000
- 1,000-1,500 km: Rs 15,000
- More than 1,500 km: Rs 18,000
These caps are for economy class and will stay till things become normal.
Air India and Air India Express said they were already keeping prices low since December 4.
Indian Railways announced 89 special trains with more than 100 trips in the next few days. They also added extra coaches to many regular trains. Many people who lost flights are now taking trains home.
One passenger at Delhi airport said: “My flight to Bengaluru was cancelled three times. I have an important meeting tomorrow, but now I have to take a train that will take 36 hours.”
Another family waiting at Mumbai said: “We came for a wedding. Tickets on other flights are double the price. We are thinking of going by bus now.”
What IndiGo is Saying and Doing
IndiGo apologised many times. On Sunday, they said they operated 1,650 flights and restored over 95% of their network. They expect full normal operations by December 10.
The airline promised automatic refunds to original payment method. They also gave full waiver on cancellation or change fees for bookings till December 15.
IndiGo said: “We are working round the clock to fix this. We have added more crew and fixed roster issues.”
But many passengers are still upset. Some said refunds are slow, and customer care lines are always busy.
How Airports Look Right Now
At big airports like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai, there are long queues at IndiGo counters. Many people are sleeping on floors or waiting for news.
Delhi Airport put out advisories asking people to check flight status before coming. Extra staff is helping with crowd control.
On Saturday, IndiGo’s on-time performance improved a bit, but still low. From six big airports, it went up to about 20%.
Political Reactions
Opposition leaders criticised the government. Congress leader P Chidambaram said the rules were announced in January 2024, so why was IndiGo not ready? He called it failure of the ministry and DGCA.
NCP leader Supriya Sule asked for more competition in airlines so one company’s problem does not affect the whole country.
Minister Naidu replied that strict action will be taken if needed, and a full inquiry is on.
What This Means for Air Travel in India
This is one of the biggest crises in Indian aviation history. IndiGo is the cheapest and most popular airline for many middle-class families. When it stops, everything gets affected – holidays, business trips, family visits.
Experts say airlines must plan better for rule changes. Passengers should always check flight status and have backup plans.
The government set up a 24×7 control room to watch the situation. They formed a committee to look into IndiGo’s operations.
Many passengers shared their stories on social media. One wrote: “IndiGo didn’t take off, but my stress levels did!”
As the day ends, IndiGo says things are getting better slowly. But for many travellers, the trouble is not over yet. Refunds must be done by 8 PM today, or more action can come.
The ministry warned that any airline not following fare caps or refund rules will face heavy penalties.
This crisis comes in peak winter travel season when many people go home for holidays. Everyone hopes normal flights start soon.
FAQs About IndiGo Flight Cancellations and Disruptions
Q: Why are so many IndiGo flights cancelled?
A: Main reason is crew shortage after new FDTL rules for pilot rest hours. IndiGo says weather and tech issues also played a part, but government says poor planning by the airline.
Q: How many flights cancelled today (December 7)?
A: Around 650 flights cancelled, but IndiGo operated 1,650. Better than Friday’s 1,600+ cancellations.
Q: What are the fare caps?
A: Rs 7,500 for short flights up to 500 km, up to Rs 18,000 for long ones. This is to stop high prices on other airlines.
Q: When will refunds come?
A: Government ordered all refunds by 8 PM on December 7. IndiGo says automatic refunds are processing. Waiver on change/cancel fees till December 15.
Q: What about special trains?
A: Railways running 89 special trains and added many extra coaches. Good for people going to places like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Lucknow.
Q: Is IndiGo safe to book now?
A: Airline says operations improving and 95% network back. But check status before going to airport. Full normal by December 10, they say.
Q: What did the minister say?
A: Ram Mohan Naidu said refunds must finish today, no reschedule charges, and baggage home in 48 hours. Strict action if not followed.
Q: Will this happen again?
A: Government doing inquiry. DGCA gave show-cause to CEO. Hope better planning stops it.
Q: How to check flight status?
A: Go to IndiGo website or app. Airports also advise checking before leaving home.