IndiGo cancellations snarl India's air travel for fourth day

Budget airline IndiGo cancelled some 500 flights on Friday, including all of those from the capital, New Delhi.

It is the fourth day of cancellations after the low-cost company failed to plan for new regulations that require longer rest for employees and limit night flying hours for greater safety.

What IndiGo flights have been cancelled?

Delhi airport announced that all IndiGo departures, believed to total 235, had been cancelled on Friday.

Chennai airport also said all of its IndiGo flights to other large cities were cancelled up to 6 p.m. on Friday.

Other major hubs also announced widespread cancellations, with 104 flights grounded in Mumbai, 102 in Bengalaru, and 92 in Hyderabad.

A temporary exemption from stricter night-duty limits was granted on Friday, offering some short-term breathing room. The Civil Aviation Ministry says the airline underestimated how the new rules would affect pilot availability.

Other carriers have not reported similar problems, and shares in the low-cost carrier dropped nearly 3% on Friday as part of a weekly slump of 10.3%.

Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers have demanded a discussion in parliament as travelers continue to face significant delays.

What is the impact of the IndiGo cancellations?

The low-cost carrier operates roughly two-thirds of India's domestic flights and has warned that normal operations will not be restored until February 10. IndiGo has said the shortages stem from planning gaps as it attempted to implement the second phase of the new duty rules.

Passengers have been stranded at major airports, waiting for hours with little information. Some have slept on terminal floors. The scenes have been tense, with reports of arguments and chants of frustration at Bengaluru airport.

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A video of a distressed father pleading for sanitary pads for his bleeding daughter while stranded at the airport amid Indigo flights crisis is going viral on the social media.#Viralvideos #Indigo #IndigoDelay #Indigoairlines #indigoflight #fatherdaughter #father pic.twitter.com/EaDeL2zp40

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Couple join their wedding reception by video link after IndiGo cancels their flight

The story went viral of one couple were forced to join their wedding reception in the southern state of Karnataka by video link after widespread IndiGo flight cancellations left them stranded in the eastern city of Bhubaneswar.

The couple had booked tickets from Bhubaneswar to Bengaluru and onward to Karnataka's Hubballi for their reception in the bride's home town. With their flight delayed repeatedly from Tuesday morning and ultimately cancelled, the bride and groom dressed for the event and joined the reception remotely.

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A newlywed techie couple was forced to attend their own wedding reception virtually after IndiGo cancelled their Bhubaneswar–Hubballi flight amid nationwide disruptions. #Viralvideos #Indigo #IndigoDelay #Indigoairlines #indigoflight #FlightCancelled #FlightCancellations pic.twitter.com/Nw4qDf9HXe

— Webdunia English (@WDEng_Portal) December 5, 2025 >