IndiGo cancels 85 flights amid staff crunch and tech glitches, issues public apology

Travel mayhem erupted across several major airports after IndiGo cancelled at least 85 flights, including 38 from Delhi and 33 from Mumbai due to a combination of crew shortages, technical snags, and heavy airport congestion. The widespread disruption left thousands of passengers stranded and infuriated, with scenes of chaos surfacing from terminals across the country.

Airline Acknowledges Disruption

In response to mounting anger, IndiGo issued an apology, stating:

"We acknowledge that IndiGo’s operations have been significantly disrupted across the network for the past two days, and we sincerely apologise to our customers for the inconvenience caused."

The airline has accepted that minor technology issues contributed to delays in processing passenger boarding, adding to the operational strain.

Passengers Vent Anger on Social Media

Social media platforms were flooded with videos and posts showing passengers confronting staff members. Many tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, calling for intervention.

“Absolute chaos and mockery at Delhi Airport,” wrote one passenger, stranded for over seven hours.

Others complained of 12-hour delays, lack of clarity, and poor staff response. A user from Hyderabad highlighted stranded Ayyappa devotees protesting over prolonged delays.

New Duty-Time Rules Add Pressure

According to sources, the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) implemented in November have significantly altered pilot rosters, worsening the crew crunch. Winter passenger surges have further stressed existing resources.

IndiGo said a combination of technology glitches, winter schedule changes, bad weather, aviation congestion, and the updated rostering rules created an unexpected compounding impact on operations.

The airline says efforts are underway to stabilise schedules and reduce inconvenience, though internal sources confirm that crew shortages remain the biggest operational hurdle.