Over 650 IndiGo flights face major disruptions as Delhi Airport cancels all domestic departures until midnight. DGCA, MoCA, and government authorities step in amid operational challenges, staffing shortages, and new FDTL norms affecting India’s largest airline.
Delhi Airport issued a fresh passenger advisory on Friday confirming that all IndiGo domestic flights scheduled to depart from the Indira Gandhi International Airport on December 5, 2025, have been cancelled until midnight. The sudden announcement has triggered massive travel disruptions across the country as IndiGo grapples with one of its most severe operational crises in recent years.
In an update posted on social media platform X, Delhi Airport stated, “IndiGo domestic flights departing from Delhi Airport on 5th December 2025 are cancelled till midnight today (till 23:59 hours). Operations for all other carriers remain as scheduled.” The airport authority also reassured passengers that its on-ground staff were working with all stakeholders to minimise inconvenience. It advised travellers to check the latest status on the official website.
This announcement follows a turbulent week for IndiGo, India’s largest airline by market share, which has been struggling with mounting operational challenges. Earlier in the day, the airport had already warned passengers to verify flight status before commuting to the airport, signalling that disruptions were expected to worsen.
Massive Wave of Cancellations and Delays Continues
The situation escalated dramatically over the past 48 hours. More than 500 flights were cancelled on Thursday, marking one of the largest single-day disruptions in the airline’s history. Several other flights were delayed, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at multiple airports across India.
In November alone, IndiGo had recorded 1,232 cancellations across its domestic and international network, raising concerns among travellers, regulators and aviation experts.
An earlier advisory posted by Delhi Airport said, “Please be advised that operational challenges affecting certain domestic services are resulting in flight delays and cancellations.” The airport urged passengers to check flight updates directly with their airlines before leaving for the airport. It further added that teams on the ground were working “diligently” with all partners to ensure a smooth and comfortable experience amid the ongoing disruption.
Civil Aviation Ministry Steps In
With cancellations mounting, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu convened an emergency review meeting with IndiGo’s top management and senior officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA). The meeting aimed to assess the scale of disruptions and formulate immediate corrective actions.
According to the Ministry, the government is maintaining heightened oversight of the evolving situation. The Minister has also instructed the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to ensure airport directors across the country extend full support to affected travellers. In addition, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been tasked with monitoring airfares to prevent sudden fare hikes triggered by reduced flight capacity.
DGCA Seeks Clarification on Cancellations
The DGCA held an intensive review meeting with IndiGo on Thursday, seeking detailed explanations for the steep rise in cancellations. IndiGo attributed the ongoing crisis to a combination of factors, including:
Operational challenges arising from the implementation of Phase II of the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL).
Crew scheduling difficulties under the new norms.
Seasonal winter conditions affecting flight operations.
The updated FDTL Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), enforced on July 1 and November 1 as per court directives, aim to reduce pilot fatigue and improve overall flight safety. However, the transition has posed significant challenges for IndiGo, which admitted during the meeting that it had underestimated crew requirements under the revised system, resulting in staff shortages and planning gaps.
Disruptions Expected To Persist for Days
IndiGo has informed authorities that disruptions may continue for at least the next two to three days as the airline attempts to stabilise flight operations. To minimise further inconvenience, the airline will temporarily reduce flight frequencies starting December 8, 2025.
The carrier has also requested a temporary relaxation of specific FDTL regulations for its A320 aircraft operations until February 10, 2026, committing to restore full operational normalcy by that date.
| Also Read: Kolkata-Bound IndiGo Flight returns to Agartala |
As the situation unfolds, passengers across India continue to face uncertainty, with many scrambling to rearrange travel plans amid the widespread cancellations. The latest advisory from Delhi Airport indicates that while other airlines are operating normally, IndiGo’s operations remain severely constrained.
