IndiGo Crisis: 550+ Flights Cancelled, Recovery Expected by 2026

IndiGo, India’s largest airline, is facing a severe operational crisis, leading to massive flight cancellations across major airports. Over 550 flights were cancelled on Thursday alone, with the disruption expected to continue in the coming days.

IndiGo Crisis: Over 550 Flights Cancelled — When Will Operations Improve? Airline Issues Major Update

IndiGo, currently going through a deep operational crisis, has issued two major updates. According to reports, more than 550 flights across India have been cancelled, with the highest number of cancellations reported from Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Over 350 flights from these three cities alone have been cancelled. Experts say the cancellation streak is far from over; more flights may be cancelled in the coming days, and operations may be further restricted.

Meanwhile, the airline has updated that full operational stability is not expected before February 2026. Here’s what you need to know about the latest developments in the IndiGo crisis.

More Than 550 Flights Cancelled

Operational issues at IndiGo continued for the third consecutive day on Thursday, leading to the cancellation of over 550 domestic and international flights. Many other flights were significantly delayed, causing severe inconvenience to thousands of passengers.

Sources told PTI that 172 flights were cancelled at Delhi Airport alone, with the total number of cancellations crossing 550 across various airports.

According to airport-wise details:

• Mumbai Airport: At least 118 flights cancelled

• Bengaluru: Around 100 flights cancelled

• Hyderabad: 75 flights cancelled

• Kolkata: 35 flights cancelled

• Chennai: 26 flights cancelled

• Goa: 11 flights cancelled

Other airports have also reported multiple cancellations.

Delhi Reports the Highest Number of Cancellations

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated that IndiGo’s flight cancellations have been rising sharply, reaching around 170–200 flights per day, which is significantly higher than normal.

The combined on-time performance of IndiGo at India’s six major airports — Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad — dropped to 19.7% on Wednesday, compared to 35% on December 2.

IndiGo, known for its punctuality and efficient operations, has faced backlash from passengers and aviation stakeholders as performance levels drop drastically.

When Will the Situation Improve?

IndiGo informed the DGCA on Thursday that it would reduce its flight operations starting December 8, and full operational stability is expected to return only by February 10, 2026.

Following days of disruptions, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA held a detailed review meeting with IndiGo’s senior officials.

The DGCA clarified that the flight disruptions were caused by poor planning and incorrect execution during the second phase of implementing Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL). Due to this, the demand for crew increased unexpectedly, leading to operational challenges.

DGCA Seeks Detailed Plan From IndiGo

IndiGo informed the regulator that corrective actions are underway, but more cancellations may occur in the coming days. To manage the situation, the airline will reduce flight operations starting December 8.

The DGCA has asked IndiGo to submit a detailed roadmap, including:

• Crew recruitment projections

• Crew training plan

• Roster restructuring

• Safety-risk assessment

• Mitigation measures

The DGCA has also directed IndiGo to submit details regarding required FDTL exemptions needed for normalizing operations.