IndiGo Crisis: December 7, 2025
New Delhi: IndiGo’s flight disruptions extended into their sixth day today, with over 115 cancellations reported at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport alone—bringing the five-day total there to 519—while multiple flights were axed at Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai airports, stranding passengers amid ongoing crew shortages and regulatory scrutiny. The airline reported restoring 95% of its network connectivity and operating over 1,500 flights yesterday (December 6), but airport authorities described operations as only “steadily resuming,” with no granular cancellation figures released for December 7 yet. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) reiterated its strict 8:00 PM deadline today for all refunds on cancelled or disrupted flights, amid complaints of unreachable helplines and charging cancellation fees despite government waivers.
As of mid-morning December 7, disruptions persisted nationwide, with TV reports citing over 30 cancellations at Chennai and scattered impacts at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, where passengers queued amid delays. At Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, screens displayed numerous IndiGo cancellations, though officials noted gradual normalisation after Friday’s (December 5) peak of over 1,000 axed flights. IndiGo attributed the issues to “unforeseen operational challenges” from November’s Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules, which mandate pilot rest and curbed night operations, exposing rostering gaps. CEO Pieter Elbers faces a DGCA show-cause notice for “severe mismanagement,” with a four-member probe underway into causes like technical glitches and weather.
Also read: IndiGo Meltdown: Chaos, Fare Hike, Rail Rush
MoCA’s emergency measures remain in force: Automatic refunds to original payment methods by 8:00 PM today, no rescheduling fees through December 15, and dedicated support cells for proactive outreach on alternatives like hotels and transport. Baggage must be delivered within 48 hours, with priority for vulnerable groups (seniors, disabled, students, and medical cases). Fare caps—₹7,500 (up to 500 km) to ₹18,000 (over 1,500 km)—continue until stability, enforced via real-time monitoring; Air India has complied since December 4. Travel aggregator ixigo is waiving convenience fees for cancellations from December 3-8.
Indian Railways bolstered relief with 89 special trains (over 100 trips) through December 8, including six Delhi-Mumbai extras and Western Railway’s Sabarmati-Delhi service (four trips December 7-10), plus 116 coaches on 37 routes for ~489,000 passengers. A viral open letter from pilots accused management of “arrogance” and overstaffing cuts, while ground staff reportedly earn ₹18,000 amid abuse; pilot unions slammed FDTL relaxations (weekly rest waived until February 2026) as safety risks.
I was personally present at the airport. This was not a routine system failure by IndiGo; it was a deliberate and unlawful tactic aimed at bringing the government to its knees. Incidents like this can also pose a serious threat to the country’s internal security in the future. pic.twitter.com/GgbmfbIkWd
— Dr. Jitendra Nagar (@NagarJitendra) December 7, 2025
Social media buzzed with outrage: Protests over “looting” via fees, demands for CBI probes into DGCA ties, and stories of missed events (e.g., a Singapore diplomat’s virtual wedding attendance). Escalating the rhetoric, Dr. Jitendra Nagar, an MD in medicine, chairman of the Diabetes School, and independent director at HSCC [Hospital Services Consultancy Corporation (India) Limited, a Mini Ratna Government of India Enterprise and a subsidiary of NBCC (formerly known as National Buildings Construction Corporation Limited, is a Government of India Navratna Enterprise) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs], claimed in a post on X from the airport that the crisis was no “routine system failure” but a “deliberate and unlawful tactic” by IndiGo to pressure the government, potentially endangering national security—a bold allegation from a government-affiliated figure that has sparked calls for investigation but lacks independent corroboration, underscoring the polarized discourse.
Opposition figures alleged “deeper issues” like poor planning despite warnings, fueling duopoly critiques (IndiGo ~60% share, with Air India group ~25%). IndiGo projects full normalcy by December 10-15, vowing a “system reboot” and trust rebuild, but experts call for antitrust action and diversification.
For real-time status, check airline apps or DGCA helpline (1800-11-3333). Refund process in 3-5 days post-deadline.
– global bihari bureau
