IndiGo Flight Chaos: Cancellations, Stranded Passengers and Fare Surge

massive flight disruption has snowballed into a full‑blown aviation crisis, stranding thousands of passengers and triggering a sharp spike in airfares across key routes in India. What’s happening - Over 500 IndiGo flights were cancelled on Saturday alone, with Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai among the worst hit as the crisis stretched into its fifth day. - Friday saw cancellations cross 1,000 flights, leading to packed terminals, long queues and passengers struggling to get updates or track their baggage. Why flights are being cancelled - IndiGo has blamed a “multitude of unforeseen operational challenges,” including the rollout of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules that forced a large number of pilots into compulsory rest just as the winter schedule ramped up from October 26. - The mismatch between crew availability and the expanded schedule has crippled operations across major hubs. Fare surge and government response - With IndiGo cutting capacity, last‑minute fares on other airlines have shot up, with some one‑way economy tickets reportedly quoted near ₹90,000 on busy routes. - The civil aviation ministry has stepped in, invoking regulatory powers to ensure “fair and reasonable” fares and ordering IndiGo to clear all pending refunds by 8 pm on December 7 and deliver separated baggage to passengers within 48 hours. Regulator steps in - The DGCA has temporarily put its FDTL orders in abeyance to stabilise operations and constituted a four‑member panel to probe the root causes of the disruption. - The probe will examine possible gaps in IndiGo’s internal oversight, operational readiness and compliance planning that allowed the situation to escalate. Source: Hindustan Times No recommendations