IndiGo continued to struggle with severe operational problems for the fifth straight day on Saturday, cancelling more than 400 flights across key airports in the country. The latest round of disruptions came just a day after the airline received temporary relief in the second phase of the court-mandated Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules, which govern the working and rest hours of pilots and crew.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation stepped in and issued strict directions to the airline. IndiGo has now been asked to complete all pending ticket refunds by Sunday evening and ensure that any misplaced or delayed baggage is delivered to passengers within the next 48 hours. The ministry also warned the airline that any further delay or failure to comply would invite immediate regulatory action.
The crisis deepened after IndiGo cancelled more than 1,000 flights over the past week, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. Several important domestic routes were affected as the airline struggled with a serious shortage of cockpit crew. The staffing problem emerged after the introduction of the new FDTL norms, which require longer rest hours for pilots. As a result, the airline was forced to ground several aircraft and cancel scheduled services across the country.
In a post on its X (formerly Twitter) handle, IndiGo confirmed that at least 14 flights bound for major cities such as Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Kochi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Delhi and Indore were cancelled until Saturday afternoon.
Which are the worst affected airports?
Bengaluru was among the worst-hit cities, recording as many as 124 cancelled flights, including 63 departures and 61 arrivals. The large number of cancellations led to overcrowding at the airport, with passengers rushing to find alternative travel options.
Mumbai airport also saw significant disruption, with 109 IndiGo flights cancelled — 51 departures and 58 arrivals. In Delhi, 106 flights were called off, including 54 departures and 52 arrivals, adding to the travel chaos in the national capital.
Hyderabad airport reported 66 cancellations, with many passengers complaining about poor communication from the airline. Several travellers said they were informed at the last minute, leaving them with limited options.
In Jammu, there was some relief as IndiGo managed to resume nine out of the 11 scheduled flights, helping some stranded passengers finally continue their journeys. However, Srinagar continued to face difficulties, with seven arrivals and seven departures cancelled due to ongoing crew scheduling issues.
Goa’s Dabolim airport recorded 14 cancellations, leaving crowds frustrated as they waited for updates. In Pune, 42 flights were cancelled, affecting travel plans for students, business professionals and families heading out for the weekend.
Ahmedabad was also badly impacted. Airport officials said that 72 IndiGo flights — both departures and arrivals — scheduled during the day were cancelled. Vadodara witnessed the cancellation of three departures, while Rajkot experienced minimal disruption, with only one flight to Mumbai cancelled and most others operating as planned.
Aviation officials said the situation remains under close watch and further action could be taken if operations do not stabilise soon.