India’s aviation sector faced another day of chaos as the government stepped in to cap airline fares after IndiGo’s massive flight disruptions left passengers stranded across major airports for the fifth consecutive day. Outside Bengaluru and Mumbai airports, crowds swelled in frustration while 385 IndiGo flights were cancelled today alone, adding to the thousands disrupted this week.
The cascading cancellations created widespread travel turmoil, prompting the government to deploy additional train services and introduce relief measures specifically for IndiGo to stabilize the situation. The fare caps were introduced as prices on competing airlines surged on high-demand routes, though authorities have not yet released the exact cap figures.
In a statement, the government said it will “continue to closely monitor fare levels through real-time data and active coordination with airlines.” India last imposed fare caps in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic to maintain stability in the aviation market.
A Turning Point for IndiGo
This incident marks one of the biggest operational crises in IndiGo’s 20-year history, a carrier long known for punctuality and low fares. The chaos stems from IndiGo’s failure to adequately prepare for new aviation safety rules regarding night flying limits and mandatory weekly rest for pilots, which took effect on November 1.
The lack of planning triggered massive scheduling disruptions, reaching a peak on Friday when more than 1,000 IndiGo flights were cancelled in a single day. Following the government’s temporary relaxation of the rules, IndiGo said it expects to resume normal operations between December 10 and 15.
Airports Slowly Recover, But Passengers Still Struggle
Delhi airport confirmed that operations are gradually stabilizing, but many IndiGo flights continue to be affected. According to airport sources:
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Bengaluru: 124 flights cancelled
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Mumbai: 109 flights cancelled
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New Delhi: 86 flights cancelled
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Hyderabad: 66 flights cancelled
Outside Bengaluru and Mumbai airports, hundreds of confused and exhausted passengers waited for updates—many unaware their flights had been cancelled until they arrived at the terminal.
One such passenger, Satish Konde, who was on his way to catch a connection from Mumbai to Nagpur, had already checked in when he was told his flight would not depart.
“I am waiting for my luggage to be returned,” he shared, reflecting a sentiment echoed by travelers nationwide.
Meanwhile, other major airlines such as Air India and Akasa have not faced any cancellations due to the new pilot-rest rules, further underscoring the severity of IndiGo’s scheduling lapse.
