Over 400 IndiGo flights cancelled; Supreme Court says no need for intervention
The airline has cancelled hundreds of flights, issued Rs 610 crore in refunds, and launched a root cause analysis while the crisis group monitors recovery
More than 400 IndiGo flights were cancelled on Monday (December 8) as the airline’s operational crisis continued for the seventh straight day, even as the Supreme Court declined to hear a PIL on the disruptions, observing that necessary steps appeared to have been taken to manage the situation. IndiGo, India’s largest airline, has been grappling with widespread operational issues since last Tuesday, leading to hundreds of cancellations and major rescheduling across its network.
Earlier, aviation watchdog DGCA on Sunday gave more time to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and the Accountable Manager Isidro Porqueras to submit their responses to the show causes notices seeking their explanations on the flight disruptions.
Both have been granted 24 hours more or time till 6 pm on Monday to submit their replies, a senior official said on Sunday.
For six days in a row, IndiGo flight operations have been significantly disrupted resulting in massive flight cancellations and delays impacting travel plans of thousands of passengers. Against this backdrop, the regulator had issued the show cause notices.
Also read | IndiGo ramps up operations, issues Rs 610 crore in refunds after week-long disruptions
In the show cause notices issued on Saturday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had asked Elbers and Porqueras to give their replies by Sunday evening. The official said the deadline for replies were extended following requests from both the airline executives.
The two executives on Sunday had sought additional time for a response citing operational constraints due to the scale of its nationwide operations and multiple unavoidable factors that contributed to disruptions across several airports, the official said.
Crisis group monitors situation
Meanwhile, IndiGo on Sunday cancelled over 650 flights while the disrupted operations were slowly stabilising as the number of cancellations reduced and more than Rs 610 crore worth ticket refunds were processed for the affected passengers.
While IndiGo will carry out a "root cause analysis" into flight disruptions that continued for the sixth consecutive day, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said passengers have endured mental harassment and distress due to the operational crisis and assured that steps are being taken to ensure accountability is fixed.
The board of IndiGo's parent InterGlobe Aviation has set up a Crisis Management Group (CMG), which is meeting regularly to monitor the situation, an announcement said on Sunday.
The airline expects operations to stabilise by December 10.
Ministry steps up oversight
The civil aviation ministry, which has taken various measures, including capping airfares and directing IndiGo to expedite ticket refund process, on Sunday said air travel operations across the country are stabilising at a fast pace.
The civil aviation ministry, which has taken various measures, including capping airfares and directing IndiGo to expedite ticket refund process, on Sunday said air travel operations across the country are stabilising at a fast pace.
The ministry also said IndiGo has processed Rs 610 crore refunds and delivered 3,000 pieces of baggage to passengers across the country as of Saturday.
Airlines begins ‘root cause analysis’
In a video message to the staff, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said, "step by step, we are getting back" and that the airline's on time performance (OTP) is expected to be 75 per cent.
Also read | IndiGo crisis: Govt caps airfares, not to exceed Rs 18,000
The OTP, an indicator of punctuality, was 20.7 per cent on Saturday, as per the latest official data.
A senior airline official on Sunday told PTI that it will do a "root cause analysis" and asserted that the carrier has adequate number of pilots and there is no deficiency.
"Our pilot numbers are fine while we may not be having the luxury of a buffer," the official told PTI.
He also said there has been no hiring freeze amid concerns being raised in certain quarters that lean-operating model might have led to the current situation.
(With agency inputs)
Live Updates
- 8 Dec 2025 3:48 PM IST
IndiGo Stock falls 8 per cent amid operational crisis
IndiGo flights cancelled live: IndiGo’s share price fell sharply again on Monday, dropping 8 per cent as the country’s largest airline continued to struggle with an operational meltdown that has triggered widespread flight cancellations and raised the prospect of regulatory penalties.
The crisis, which began last week and has quickly turned into a major ordeal for passengers and a public relations setback for the carrier, has led to a cumulative stock decline of 16 per cent. According to a Reuters report, the slide has erased roughly $4 billion from the airline’s market value, bringing its current valuation to about $21 billion.
- 8 Dec 2025 3:45 PM IST
Air India chief thanks staff for support amid IndiGo Disruptions
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson acknowledged the efforts of airline staff as IndiGo’s crisis left passengers seeking alternative travel options. With India’s largest carrier facing widespread cancellations, Wilson said the situation had created intense pressure on aviation personnel and thanked his team for their response. “It has been an extremely busy few days for many of you, and I want to convey my deep appreciation for the effort you are making to support travellers and colleagues,” he said, as quoted by the Hindustan Times.
Wilson also urged employees to continue extending support to others in the industry. Highlighting the importance of compassion during difficult circumstances, he noted that their actions had a real impact. “The assistance and empathy we can provide at this challenging time makes a genuine difference to others, and I have been touched by many stories of Air Indians stepping up to the occasion,” he added.
- 8 Dec 2025 3:33 PM IST
IndiGo sets up crisis group to address ongoing disruptions
IndiGo officials said on Monday that a Crisis Management Group (CMG), created on December 4, has been meeting every day to track the ongoing disruption. The CMG was formed during the first meeting on December 4 and has since been reviewing all matters linked to the current situation.
Officials stated that the group’s main priorities include restoring full operational integrity, ensuring timely communication, accelerating refunds and rescheduling, and helping passengers receive their baggage. “We continue to work around the clock to bring the network back to full capacity,” the airline said.
Earlier in the day, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted IndiGo’s Accountable Manager and Chief Executive Officer a one-time 24-hour extension to reply to the Show Cause Notice issued on December 6 over widespread disruptions and observed non-compliances.
The extension followed a request dated December 7, in which the two functionaries sought more time, citing operational constraints tied to IndiGo’s extensive network and several unavoidable factors behind delays at multiple airports.
After reviewing the request, the DGCA extended the deadline only until 1800 hours on December 8, stressing that no further extensions would be given. It added that failure to submit a full response would lead to an ex-parte decision based on existing records.
The regulator said it continues to monitor the situation, with emphasis on passenger safety, compliance, and restoring normal operations.
- 8 Dec 2025 3:27 PM IST
IndiGo flight chaos: Major flight cancellations, refunds and baggage delays reported
Amid the ongoing IndiGo flight chaos, the Ministry of Civil Aviation reported large-scale cancellations and refunds across two defined periods. For the week of December 1 to December 7, 2025, a total of 586,705 PNRs were cancelled, resulting in refunds amounting to Rs 569.65 crore. During the broader window from November 21 to December 7, 2025 (up to 23:59 hours), cancellations rose to 955,591 PNRs, with total refunds reaching Rs 827 crore.
Updates were also issued on baggage handling. Of the roughly 9,000 bags that had been left undistributed, about 4,500 have now been delivered to passengers. The remaining baggage is expected to be returned within the next 36 hours, according to the ministry.
Regarding operations, IndiGo plans to operate 1,802 flights today, connecting 137 of its 138 destinations. Despite this, approximately 500 flights are still expected to be cancelled as the airline works to restore normalcy across its network.
- 8 Dec 2025 1:49 PM IST
Junior Hockey World Cup: IndiGo crisis disrupts travel plans of players' families, fans
24 teams are participating in the Junior Hockey World Cup, being held in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December 10. For most players and their families, it is their maiden trip to India. Many NRIs have also flown in to support the Indian team.
However, the widespread flight delays and cancellations have thrown schedules into chaos. IndiGo cancelled thousands of flights last week, citing regulatory changes in the pilots' flight duty and regulations norms. This resulted in lakhs of passengers getting stuck at airports across the country.
Some fans from Bengaluru, who had booked their flight tickets months in advance, decided not to take a risk. They opted for refunds and drove down to Chennai on Sunday to catch the semifinal.
Even officials have not been spared by the flight disruptions. Digvijay Singh, an official of the Hockey India League franchise, waited eight hours at the Patna airport to catch a flight to Chennai.
With the World Cup set to wrap up in two days, uncertainty about people's plans to return home looms large. With prices of alternative flights rising and train seats nearly impossible to find, fans, officials, families and journalists are monitoring travel apps as closely as match updates.
If the situation does not improve soon, returning home could be as challenging as winning matches on the field.
- 8 Dec 2025 1:45 PM IST
Civil aviation minister says Indigo crisis stems from internal crew-rostering issues
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on the Indigo flight crisis, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said that strict Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) are already in place to safeguard passengers affected by delays and cancellations, and that all airline operators are required to adhere to them.
He noted that an inquiry has been initiated into the reported software issue and added that the aviation sector undergoes continuous technological upgrades.
He emphasised that the government’s aim is to uphold top global standards within India’s aviation sector.
He also clarified that the ongoing disruptions stemmed from problems within IndiGo’s internal crew-rostering and planning systems.
- 8 Dec 2025 1:33 PM IST
Priyank Kharge blames Indigo, Centre for chaos amid flight cancellations
Commenting on the IndiGo flight cancellations, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge said the DGCA has effectively fallen into a duopoly trap. He argued that both the airline’s lack of response and the government’s lack of accountability are causing greater hardship for citizens. Kharge also recalled Prime Minister Modi’s earlier remark stating that people wearing “Hawaii slippers” can fly in flights, noting that today those very slippers are being thrown at officials at the airports.
- 8 Dec 2025 1:29 PM IST
Mamata Banerjee slams Centre over Indigo crisis, says passengers left helpless
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the Indigo flight cancellations, stating that the public has been left without alternatives as a large number of flights have stopped operating. She described the situation as a disaster, noting that thousands of passengers are stranded at airports and experiencing severe mental distress.
Mamata urged the Government of India to devise a plan to resolve the crisis, arguing that the BJP government is uninterested in issues affecting the country and its people and is instead focused on tightening control over institutions.
- 8 Dec 2025 1:24 PM IST
Passengers's luggage left stranded at Delhi airport amid Indigo flight cancellations
Visuals from Terminal 1 of Indira Gandhi International Airport show IndiGo passengers’ luggage left unattended amid widespread flight cancellations and delays.
- 8 Dec 2025 1:12 PM IST
Opposition demands statement from government
The opposition on Monday demanded in the Lok Sabha that the government should inform the country about what it is doing in the wake of the IndiGo flight disruptions and the inconvenience being faced by the people at various airports across the country.
Speaker Om Birla said Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu will give a detailed statement on the matter in the Lower House on Monday or Tuesday.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha soon after the Question Hour, Congress' deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said, "Through you (the Speaker), we request the government that the Civil Aviation Ministry should tell the country through this House that why people in all airports across the country since many days (are facing trouble), there are dialysis patients, people who have weddings in their house, people who want to reach their elderly, there is chaos at the airports." "We were told that even people wearing Hawai chappals will travel in airplanes but prices have soared to Rs 20,000, coffee (at airports) is for Rs 250 and planes are delayed. Therefore, the government should tell us what is it doing," he said.
The Opposition has been attacking the government over the IndiGo flight disruptions and blaming it for the "unprecedented crisis". PTI
