IndiGo chaos continues: Over 170 flights cancelled at Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Delhi airports

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, December 4, 2025: A fresh wave of disruptions hit air travel in India on Thursday as over 170 IndiGo flights were cancelled, causing major chaos at India’s busiest airports, Reuters reported.

Bengaluru airport confirmed that 73 IndiGo flights had been cancelled on December 4. From and to Hyderabad, too, at least 68 IndiGo flights have been cancelled, while from Delhi the number hovers around 30.

A day earlier, at least 150 flights were cancelled and dozens delayed across airports, leaving thousands of travellers stranded. 

The cancellations come amid wider network-level disruptions for the country’s largest airline as it dealt with a serious crew shortage. The airline has initiated calibrated schedule adjustments for the next 48 hours to restore normal operations.

Shares of Indigo airline operator InterGlobe Aviation fell 3.4% in the opening trade on Thursday to hit the day’s low of Rs 5,405 on the NSE. 

Delhi saw 38 cancellations, Bengaluru 42, Mumbai 33 and Hyderabad 19 on December 3. Many other flights were delayed across the network. IndiGo has been facing a crew shortage since the implementation of the second phase of FDTL norms, which has increased rest requirements and reduced night landings.

The norms, implemented by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) from November 1 following a Delhi High Court mandate, cap the number of landings a pilot can perform between 12 am and 6 am while increasing weekly rest requirements.

An IndiGo spokesperson said a “multitude of unforeseen operational challenges” has affected operations over the past two days. “Minor technology glitches, schedule changes linked to the winter season, adverse weather conditions, increased congestion in the aviation system and the implementation of updated crew rostering rules (Flight Duty Time Limitations) had a negative compounding impact on our operations in a way that was not feasible to be anticipated,” the person said in a statement.

Meanwhile, aviation watchdog DGCA on Wednesday initiated investigation in flight disruptions, and has asked the airline to submit the reasons for the current situation as well as the plans to reduce flight cancellations and delays.