All IndiGo domestic flights from Delhi cancelled today
IndiGo cancelled over 500 flights Thursday, its highest-ever single-day disruption, affecting multiple airports including Delhi heavily.
In an unprecedented escalation of disruptions, all IndiGo domestic flights departing from Delhi were declared cancelled till midnight, according to a brief announcement posted by Delhi Airport on X early Friday morning. However, within minutes, sources inside the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conveyed a different picture to NDTV, stating that cancellations were officially mandated only till 3 pm. The conflicting claims have intensified the confusion and frustration already gripping thousands of passengers struggling to navigate four straight days of chaos across the country’s busiest airports.
The contradictory announcements highlight the growing lack of clarity around flight operations at IndiGo, India’s largest airline by market share and a carrier known for maintaining strict punctuality standards. Over the last several days, those standards have been severely tested, with unprecedented operational breakdowns leaving passengers stranded, queues piling up, and tempers flaring at multiple terminals, particularly in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
The crisis deepened after the DGCA issued a stern warning to IndiGo on Thursday, flagging the severe shortage of ground staff at Delhi’s Terminal 1. Officials noted that airline personnel were insufficient in number to manage the surging crowds of delayed and stranded passengers, many of whom had already spent hours waiting for updates or scrambling to rebook their tickets at higher prices. The aviation regulator expressed concern about the airline’s inability to ensure basic service reliability amid mounting operational stress.
On Thursday alone, IndiGo cancelled as many as 550 flights, marking the highest number of cancellations by the airline in a single day in its history. These cancellations spanned several major airports, with Delhi bearing the largest brunt. The unprecedented figure spoke to the scale of the crisis, especially for an airline that has built its reputation on dependable schedules and efficient turnaround times.
The situation has not improved significantly today. IndiGo has already cancelled more than 500 flights, including all outbound domestic flights from Delhi that were later rescinded following the regulatory clarification. The airline’s cancellations across Tuesday and Wednesday had already exceeded 200, pushing the cumulative disruptions this week well past 1,200 flights.
Passengers have reported widespread difficulties since the disruptions began. Many have been unable to reach customer-care representatives due to jammed helplines. Others have complained of last-minute flight cancellations that offered minimal opportunity to make alternative arrangements. Some passengers, including elderly travellers and families with young children, were reportedly left waiting for hours without clear instructions or assistance.
Industry analysts say the crisis appears to be the result of a combination of logistical lapses, staff shortages, and cascading delays that created a domino effect through the airline’s tightly scheduled operations. Once flight rotations were disrupted, aircraft and crew availability quickly fell out of sync, amplifying the number of cancellations.
Travel costs have also soared, with fares on competing carriers skyrocketing due to the sudden surge in demand. Business travellers, who often rely heavily on early-morning and late-evening IndiGo flights from Delhi, have been among the worst affected. Tourism and hospitality sectors are also bracing for ripple effects, as cancellations ahead of the weekend threaten travel plans during one of the busiest months of the year.
Meanwhile, the aviation ministry has reportedly sought detailed explanations from both IndiGo and the DGCA regarding the discrepancies in publicly shared information, as well as the steps being taken to restore normal operations. The airline has yet to release a comprehensive public statement addressing the nationwide disruptions, though airport authorities are urging passengers to check flight statuses regularly before heading to the terminals.
As the day unfolds, travellers remain on edge, uncertain whether further cancellations may follow and hoping for more consistent communication from authorities and the carrier. The immediate priority for both IndiGo and the DGCA will be to stabilise operations, deploy adequate staff, and restore confidence among the tens of thousands of passengers depending on India’s busiest aviation network.