IndiGo flight cancellations, Govt caps fares as IndiGo cancels over 400 flights.
The government has given IndiGo temporary relief, exempting it from the new rules until February 10 for now.
IndiGo’s massive operational crisis entered its second day on Saturday, December 6, 2025, with the airline cancelling over 400 flights across four major Indian airports. The disruption came just 24 hours after IndiGo managed to temporarily secure major relaxations in the second phase of the court-mandated flight duty time and rest period norms for cockpit crew. These norms, seen as crucial for pilot welfare and aviation safety, have been at the centre of heated discussions within the industry over the past week.
According to sources, Bengaluru airport was hit the hardest, witnessing 124 cancellations —63 departures and 61 arrivals. Mumbai airport reported 109 cancelled flights , including 51 departures and 58 arrivals. At Delhi airport , 106 flights were cancelled, with 54 departures and 52 arrivals impacted. Hyderabad airport also saw significant disruptions, with IndiGo cancelling 66 flights from the city.
These cancellations follow an already chaotic Friday, when the airline scrapped more than 1,000 flights , plunging India’s air travel network into disarray. Airports were packed with stranded travellers, long queues, frustrated families, and passengers scrambling for alternate arrangements. The ripple effect was immediate—airfares on several key domestic routes surged dramatically, in some cases doubling within hours.
The sharp spike in prices prompted the central government to intervene swiftly. To prevent further passenger hardship, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) moved to exempt IndiGo from complying with the new crew duty norms until February 10 . The decision was intended as a temporary cushion, giving the airline time to stabilise its operations without the immediate pressure of adjusting rosters to meet the stricter rules.
For three days, IndiGo’s top leadership had maintained silence on the unfolding crisis. But on Saturday, CEO Pieter Elbers finally broke his silence. In a video message shared publicly, he apologised to passengers for the “major inconvenience” caused by the massive disruptions. The apology came amid growing criticism from passengers and aviation experts who felt the airline could have communicated more proactively as chaos mounted across airports.
Government caps airfares to curb sudden surge
As cancellations mounted and ticket prices rose sharply, the Ministry of Civil Aviation took what it described as a “serious view” of the situation. Many passengers reported exorbitant fares on popular routes such as Mumbai–Delhi, Bengaluru–Delhi, and Hyderabad–Mumbai—prices that were far beyond normal ranges, even for peak travel periods.
In response, MoCA invoked its regulatory powers and imposed caps on airfares across all affected routes. The aim was to shield passengers from opportunistic pricing and ensure airlines do not take advantage of limited seat availability during a crisis. The government’s message was clear: no airline would be allowed to profit from widespread disruptions caused by operational failures, whether intentional or unavoidable.
A senior official explained that the caps would remain in place as long as necessary to prevent price gouging. “This is a passenger-first decision,” the official said, adding that regulators would not hesitate to take further action if required.
The Ministry also said it would monitor fare levels in real time , working closely with airlines, online travel platforms, and other stakeholders to track pricing behaviour. Any airline found deviating from the prescribed limits would face “immediate corrective action,” the Ministry warned.
A crisis with far-reaching impact
The ongoing disruption has become one of the most significant operational crises in IndiGo’s history. As the country’s largest airline by market share, IndiGo operates thousands of flights per week, and any large-scale cancellations inevitably trigger a domino effect across the aviation ecosystem—affecting airport logistics, connecting flights, hotel bookings, and business travel.
Analysts say the crisis also raises broader questions for India’s aviation sector. The court-mandated flight duty time limitations (FDTL) were introduced in phases to address fatigue management for pilots—an issue globally recognised as central to flight safety. With IndiGo receiving temporary relief from the new norms, some experts have questioned whether the exemption could set a precedent that other airlines may demand during operational challenges.
For passengers, the experience has already been deeply frustrating. Many were forced to wait for hours in customer service queues or faced last-minute cancellations after reaching the airport. Those who tried rebooking found limited seat availability, and even after fare caps, prices remained higher than usual due to demand far exceeding supply.
Looking ahead
As IndiGo works to restore normal operations, the government’s involvement signals the seriousness of the crisis. The airline will now need to stabilise schedules, reorganise pilot rosters, and rebuild passenger confidence—all while preparing to comply with the new crew duty norms once the exemption expires on February 10.
For now, the combination of fare caps, regulatory oversight, and IndiGo’s public apology has helped calm immediate concerns. But the broader recovery—both operational and reputational—will take longer, especially in an aviation market as large and fast-growing as India’s.
The coming days will be crucial in determining how quickly IndiGo can regain full operational strength and restore trust among the millions of passengers who rely on it daily.