IndiGo meltdown hits Chennai Airport again: 38 flights cancelled on Sunday, December 7

Chennai: Chennai witnessed one of its worst aviation disruptions this year on Sunday as IndiGo abruptly cancelled 38 flights in a single day, throwing thousands of passengers into confusion and escalating the airline’s nationwide operational crisis into its sixth straight day.

The mass cancellations—part of more than 2,000 flights grounded across India since December 1—stem from IndiGo’s severe staffing shortage, worsened by recently imposed crew duty-time restrictions.

The airline, which runs India’s largest flight network, has struggled to roster enough pilots and cabin crew after the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) tightened operational windows.

Passengers Stranded, Fares Skyrocket

Inside Chennai International Airport, scenes of anger and exhaustion played out from early morning. Long queues snaked through the terminal as passengers received cancellation alerts barely minutes before departure.

Parents with young children, international travellers with connecting flights, and business flyers rushing for meetings all found themselves stranded without alternatives.

With demand soaring, fares on other carriers spiked to four to five times the normal price, forcing many to either postpone journeys or spend exorbitantly on last-minute tickets.

Some travellers alleged they were told to “wait for updates” for hours, only to be informed eventually that no replacement flights would operate. Others complained of inadequate refunds that did not match the inflated cost of booking fresh tickets.

A Crisis Months in the Making

According to aviation insiders, IndiGo has been operating with a significant crew deficit since November due to medical leave, resignations, and delays in training for its expanding fleet.

When the DGCA implemented stricter fatigue-management norms last week, the already stretched roster collapsed, triggering cancellations that rippled through the network.

IndiGo—operating over 1,800 flights daily—has been unable to recover from the domino effect, with each cancelled flight requiring additional crew adjustments across future schedules.

Issue Raised in Parliament

The worsening situation reached Parliament on Saturday, where members demanded accountability from both IndiGo and the civil aviation ministry. Some MPs labelled the situation “a nationwide aviation failure”, pressing the government for immediate intervention.

Government Relaxes Duty Norms Temporarily

On Saturday evening, the Centre announced temporary relaxation of crew duty-time restrictions to help restore operations. Officials said schedules should begin stabilising within 24 hours, with full normalisation expected in about 72 hours, depending on crew availability and aircraft readiness.

IndiGo has assured the ministry that it is “working round the clock” to rebuild rosters and improve communication with affected flyers.

Uncertainty Continues for Chennai Passengers

Despite official assurances, Sunday remained turbulent for Chennai travellers as IndiGo’s cancellations showed no signs of easing. With the crisis heading into its seventh day, confidence among flyers remains shaken.

For now, Chennai Airport continues to bear the brunt of India’s biggest airline meltdown in years—one that may take days before passengers can finally breathe easy again.