New Delhi: IndiGo’s operational crisis continues to disrupt air travel across India. So far, the airline has cancelled over 1,000 flights nationwide, leaving passengers stranded at major airports.

At Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, all departing domestic flights have been cancelled until midnight Friday, according to airport operator DIAL. Travellers have reported long delays, missing luggage, and lack of food and water.

Massive cancellations at major airports

Delhi: 225 flights cancelled (135 departures, 90 arrivals)

Bengaluru: 102 flights cancelled (50 departures, 52 arrivals)

Mumbai: 104 flights cancelled (53 departures, 50 arrivals)

Hyderabad: 92 flights cancelled (49 departures, 43 arrivals)

Pune: 32 flights cancelled (16 departures, 16 arrivals)

Chandigarh: 15 flights cancelled, 25 delayed

Passengers face chaos and rising costs

Passengers stranded at airports described the situation as chaotic and stressful. Many reported receiving no prior communication about cancellations and facing skyrocketing fares on alternate airlines.

One passenger, whose Ahmedabad-to-Varanasi flight was cancelled, told ANI, “We have been stranded for 10-12 hours without food or water. Alternate flights are costing us three times the usual fare, around ₹24,000-30,000 per adult.”

Another passenger added,“We were not informed that they are cancelling the flight...We have been awake since 5 am, and we have been waiting here for 2 hours. There is no information and we are standing in the queue for hours and now they are saying that they will not even provide the stay. Tomorrow they are providing us with the flight, we have a wedding to attend. So, it's a total mess...We are really disappointed with IndiGo.”

Why is the disruption happening

IndiGo, which is experiencing operational disruptions and cancellations, has sought temporary operational exemptions from certain Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) provisions for its A320 fleet until February 10, 2026, and assured that operational stability will be restored by that date, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a statement.

Currently, the airline is seeing 170-200 flight cancellations per day, far above normal levels, leaving passengers frustrated and stranded without adequate support.