NEW DELHI: Massive disruption hit airports across India on Thursday after IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, cancelled more than 1,200 flights, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.
IndiGo said the cancellations were caused by unforeseen operational challenges, citing technical glitches, adverse weather, and the impact of new crew rostering rules that mandate longer rest periods for pilots and cabin crew.
India’s aviation regulator has ordered an investigation and directed the airline to submit a plan to ease the disruptions, which began on Monday and have continued through the week.
Passengers took to social media to express frustration, with some reporting delays of up to eight hours and alleging a shortage of staff at airports. One user on X described the scene as “complete mayhem”.
IndiGo confirmed that 1,232 flights had been cancelled as of Wednesday. The airline said it is offering refunds and alternative travel arrangements while working to restore normal operations.
The low-cost carrier, long known for its punctuality, has faced multiple setbacks recently. Last week, around 200 of its aircraft were affected after Airbus issued a global safety alert requiring an urgent software upgrade for 6,000 planes worldwide.
India is among the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets and recently crossed 500,000 daily air travellers for the first time, putting additional pressure on airlines to keep pace with demand.
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