Mass IndiGo cancellations on Dec 9 hit 271; Ahmedabad flyers suffer 12-hr delay as govt prepares crackdown

IndiGo’s operational crisis intensified on Tuesday as the airline cancelled as many as 271 flights across India, with disruptions entering the eighth consecutive day. The large-scale cancellations prompted the Centre to signal strict measures, including a possible reduction of the airline’s winter schedule slots.

According to sources cited in a PTI report, 121 flights were cancelled at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru alone, including 58 arrivals and 63 departures. The impact was widespread across major metros:

• Hyderabad: 58 cancellations (14 arrivals, 44 departures)
• Chennai: 41 cancellations (18 departures, 23 arrivals)
• Ahmedabad: 16 cancellations (9 arrivals, 7 departures)

The disruptions come at a time when passenger complaints are piling up and on-ground chaos continues at several airports.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinarapu said the government will “definitely” reduce IndiGo’s slots in the winter schedule due to the persistent disruptions.

The airline, controlled by the InterGlobe Enterprises group led by Rahul Bhatia, currently operates over 2,200 flights daily, covering around 90 domestic and 40+ international destinations.

Ahmedabad Flyers Face Long Delays as Inspections Begin

At the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, passengers earlier reported 12-hour delays and unresponsive helplines as cancellations continued on Tuesday. Many travellers remained stranded for hours, highlighting the severe strain on passenger handling.

Following repeated complaints nationwide, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation ordered senior officials — including Deputy Secretaries and Joint Secretaries — to conduct immediate on-ground inspections at major airports such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Guwahati, Goa, and Thiruvananthapuram.

The inspections aim to evaluate passenger services, verify airline operations, and ensure immediate corrective actions wherever deficiencies are reported.

Earlier, the DGCA issued show-cause notices to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and COO Isidro Porqueras over the ongoing disruptions.