Day 4: No end to IndiGo flight cancellation row; airline to restore full operation by Feb 10

Hyderabad: For the fourth day in a row, IndiGo flight cancellations have triggered chaos across indian airports.

The airline has informed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that operations will stabilise by 10 February, but disruptions are expected to persist for another 2–3 days.

Background: Multiple factors trigger chain reaction

In a public statement, IndiGo said a combination of operational challenges had created what it called a “negative compounding impact” on flight schedules.

“Minor tech glitches, winter schedule transitions, adverse weather, rising airspace congestion, and updated crew rostering rules created a negative compounding impact that was not feasible to anticipate,” the airline said.

IndiGo, long known for its punctuality and reliability, even branding its on-time reputation as “IndiGo Standard Time,” is now facing one of its most challenging weeks in recent memory.

Kolkata records major disruptions

Kolkata Airport has seen one of the highest concentrations of cancellations and delays during this period.

4 December 2025 (0000–2359 hrs)

Arrivals

• Cancelled: 22

• Delayed: 81

Departures

• Cancelled: 17

• Delayed: 78

5 December 2025 (0000–0900 hrs)

Arrivals

• Cancelled: 8

• Delayed: 13

Departures

• Cancelled: 18

• Delayed: 13

Cumulative (3–5 December, till 0900 hrs)

• Total Delayed (Arrivals + Departures): 320

• Total Cancelled (Arrivals + Departures): 92

• Total Scheduled IndiGo Flights: 468

This means nearly 20% of scheduled flights were cancelled and more than 68% experienced delays, according to airport data.

Passengers caught in long waits

Travellers at Kolkata, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru reported long queues at airline counters, confusion over rebooking, and limited communication during the early phase of disruptions.

Riya Banerjee, a passenger flying from Kolkata to Pune, speaking to NewsMeter, said, “The delay kept increasing every hour. The airline messages were vague. Only at the airport did we learn that the crew was unavailable.”

Another passenger, Vikas Sharma, who had a morning flight to Delhi, said, “The flight was first shown as delayed, then cancelled after two hours. By then, the next available flight was late evening. I had to cancel my meetings for the day.”

Some passengers also expressed concern about missed international connections.

Pallavi Rao, travelling from Kolkata to Dubai via Delhi, said, “I requested to be shifted to another airline, but seats were full. The staff tried to help, but the options were limited.”

DGCA monitoring; IndiGo working on recovery

The DGCA has asked IndiGo to provide frequent updates and ensure priority support for stranded passengers. Officials said they are monitoring passenger handling, duty-hour compliance, and recovery plans.

IndiGo has begun deploying standby crew where available, redistributing aircraft, and adjusting the winter timetable to reduce operational pressure.

What passengers should expect next

IndiGo has indicated that full normalisation may not take until 10 February, but expects gradual improvement within a few days.

Airports are advising passengers to:

• Check flight status frequently

• Arrive early, especially for morning departures

• Opt for web check-in and standby rebooking options

• Be prepared for last-minute gate or schedule changes