Airports across India witnessed complete disorder as IndiGo continued to struggle with major operational failures, leaving thousands of passengers stranded without luggage, food, or updates. With more than 500 flights cancelled, angry flyers described their experience as nothing short of a nightmare.
Passengers Wait for 12–14 Hours With No Luggage or Information
Many travellers said they had been stuck at airports for over half a day with no communication from IndiGo. Counters were reportedly empty and there were no arrangements for basic needs like food or water.
One furious passenger at Delhi airport told NDTV it felt like “mental torture”. He said, “I’m here for over 12 hours… They keep telling us one-hour delays, two-hour delays. We were going to a wedding, and we didn’t even have our luggage. IndiGo staff is not telling us anything. Worst airlines right now.”
Another traveller shared a similar ordeal: “They kept delaying the flight. We have no clarification from IndiGo.”
A third flier expressed frustration after a 14-hour wait, “It’s very stressful… There are no coupons for food or anything. My connecting flight got cancelled… The staff is not trained at all to handle such emergencies.”
Anger Erupts in Hyderabad and Goa Airports
Scenes were no different in Hyderabad, where stranded passengers shouted in frustration as they were neither given accommodation nor basic assistance. Some even blocked an Air India flight in protest.
One passenger waiting in Hyderabad said, “We were told the flight was on time… Now it’s been over 12 hours… There’s absolutely an abysmal response from IndiGo.” At Goa airport, tensions escalated further. A viral video showed passengers yelling at IndiGo staff as police tried to manage the situation.
IndiGo Cancels 550+ Flights; More Disruptions Expected
For the fourth straight day, the airline’s network remained severely affected.
As per PTI, cancellations included:
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118 flights in Mumbai
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100 in Bengaluru
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75 in Hyderabad
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35 in Kolkata
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26 in Chennai
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11 in Goa
At Bhopal airport, at least five flights were cancelled today. The airline acknowledged major planning failures and admitted it misjudged crew requirements under newly introduced norms. With winter congestion also adding pressure, IndiGo faced a severe shortage of available crew.
To manage the crisis, authorities have temporarily rolled back the new night-duty rules, which had extended the definition of night operations from midnight–5am to midnight–6am. IndiGo warned that cancellations will continue for another 2–3 days, after which the airline will cut down its schedule from December 8 to restore stability. CEO Pieter Elbers told employees that returning to normal operations will not be an “easy target.”
IndiGo Issues Public Apology
The airline shared a late-night apology, saying its teams are working with various authorities to restore operations. “The last two days have seen widespread disruption… We extend a heartfelt apology to all our customers and industry stakeholders,” IndiGo said. The statement added that IndiGo staff, along with MOCA, DGCA, BCAS, AAI and airport operators, are “working diligently” to minimise the cascading impact of delays.
Also Read: IndiGo Flight Cancellations Cross 300; Major Metro Airports Hit Hard
