ISLAMABAD: India’s largest airline, IndiGo, is enduring what local media describe as its “worst-ever operational crisis,” with more than 4,500 flights canceled over the past week and no clear resolution in sight, according to multiple Indian news reports.

The turmoil began on Tuesday and has now stretched into a seventh consecutive day, crippling operations at major airports nationwide. One report said the situation “spiraled quickly,” with cancellations rising sharply each day.

According to the reports, the crisis escalated rapidly over the week. It began on Dec 2 with more than 150 flights canceled, followed by nearly 200 cancellations on the following day as IndiGo’s on-time performance plunged to just 19.7%.

On Dec 4, the situation had worsened with over 300 flights canceled, including several international services. Friday marked the airline’s largest single-day collapse, with around 1,600 flights grounded.

The disruptions continued through the weekend, with roughly 850 flights canceled on Saturday and another 650 on Sunday. By Monday, the turmoil showed no sign of easing, as airports in Delhi, Chennai, and Bengaluru reported hundreds more cancellations.

Piles of luggage

Indian media reports described chaotic scenes at major aviation hubs, particularly Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and Bengaluru’s Kempegowda Airport, where overcrowded terminals left passengers scrambling to rebook flights or retrieve belongings.

At Delhi’s Terminal 1, IndiGo’s biggest hub, “unclaimed baggage piled up,” one report said, with passengers “forced to sift through rows of suitcases” in hopes of finding their bags.

In a sharp escalation, India’s aviation regulator issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers, citing widespread operational failures.

According to another Indian media report, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the disruptions reflected “significant lapses in planning, oversight, and resource management,” particularly in relation to new rules on pilot duty hours.

The DGCA investigation reportedly found that IndiGo “failed to make adequate staffing adjustments” to comply with new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), which expanded mandatory rest periods and reduced night-time landing allowances, changes that contributed to a pilot shortage and deepened the crisis.

The regulator warned that IndiGo could face further action if it does not address the issues “comprehensively,” according to the reports.

India’s aviation oversight

The continuing meltdown has fueled renewed criticism of India’s aviation oversight apparatus, which observers say has been slow to anticipate the cascading impact of FDTL changes, despite clear early signs of strain on pilot schedules.

Analysts quoted in local coverage said the crisis reflects broader structural weaknesses in India’s aviation governance, from regulatory planning gaps to chronic understaffing at major airports, raising questions about how the world’s fastest-growing aviation market is being managed.

Flights, finances collapse

IndiGo has attempted to compensate passengers by issuing automatic refunds, waiving cancellation fees, and returning thousands of pieces of lost baggage. As of the weekend, the airline had processed $67.66 million in refunds and reunited passengers with more than 3,000 bags, according to the reports.

Still, the carrier admits the crisis is far from over. IndiGo cited a “complex mix of factors,” including technology glitches, winter schedule changes, and the effects of Cyclone Ditwah. The airline nonetheless expressed hope that operations would stabilize by December 10, Indian media said.

With uncertainty lingering at India’s busiest airports, IndiGo’s share price dropped as much as 7.56% to INR 4,965.05 ($55.06) on the Bombay Stock Exchange, even as the broader Sensex fell 0.40%, according to the reports.

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IndiGo hits seventh day of cancellations as Indian authorities face scrutiny