Flight disruptions pile up as IndiGo officials reach DGCA office; 95 flights cancelled in Delhi alone

bengaluru airport indigo

Flight disruptions continued to pile up across India on Thursday, with IndiGo’s top management reaching the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) office after being summoned, even as cancellations and hours-long delays left passengers stranded at major airports and the tally of IndiGo cancellations at Delhi alone climbed to 95 flights, 48 departures and 47 arrivals, across domestic and international sectors, according to airport authorities.

#FlightCancellations | Delays piling up a the #DelhiAirport#IndiGo officials arrive at the office of #DGCA to update the regulator about flight cancellations and measures they are taking to mitigate the situation

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📹 @shivanibazaz@madeehamedia#FlightDelay#IndigoDelaypic.twitter.com/l0ST4b92wS — CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18News) December 4, 2025

The cancellations, which began in the morning, kept rising through the day as 'operational issues' persisted, forcing thousands of passengers to rebook, reroute or wait indefinitely and turning the IndiGo disruption into a wider network shock for airports across the country.

DGCA hauls up IndiGo 

With public anger rising and social media flooded with complaints, the DGCA called in IndiGo’s senior management to explain the mass cancellations and prolonged delays.

The management of Indigo airlines reached the DGCA's office after being summoned. The top management has been asked to explain the mass flight cancellation & hours-long delays that have left passengers stranded at various major airports across India#Indigo#FlightDisruption… pic.twitter.com/C7u8t0ZqBM — CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18News) December 4, 2025

Officials are examining whether the airline complied with norms on passenger facilitation, advance intimation and scheduling, and are seeking granular reasons for why such a large number of flights were pulled at short notice, people aware of the development said.

Disruptions spread beyond Delhi

At Delhi, officials had initially flagged around 30 IndiGo departures cancelled in the morning. By afternoon, the disruption had widened to affect both incoming and outgoing flights, with 95 cancellations recorded at the airport.

The problem is no longer confined to a single hub.

Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) issued a passenger advisory flagging wider operational strain across carriers.

“Certain domestic airlines are currently experiencing operational constraints, affecting services nationwide. CIAL is in continuous coordination with airline operations teams to support passengers and ensure the smooth functioning of airport services. Passengers are advised to verify the latest flight information with their respective airline,” the airport operator said in a statement issued at 10:30 am on December 4, 2025.

In Chennai as well, multiple IndiGo flights were delayed or cancelled, disrupting schedules and adding pressure on airport infrastructure.

‘Fed up with IndiGo’: passengers pushed from route to route

For passengers, the operational jargon has translated into chaotic, multi-leg journeys that keep changing in real time.

“I am fed up with IndiGo's services. Yesterday, I had a direct flight from Mumbai to Kolkata, but it was cancelled and rescheduled via Chennai. After reaching Chennai, that flight was cancelled as well. They then revised my journey from Chennai to Port Blair and onwards to Kolkata. Now I have received another message saying that the Port Blair to Kolkata flight has also been cancelled,” one traveller told ANI.

Similar accounts have flooded social platforms, with flyers complaining about last-minute SMS alerts, lack of on-ground assistance, inadequate meal and hotel arrangements, and difficulty getting through to customer support.

Pilot body flags ‘planning failure’ and ‘pressure on regulator’

Amid speculation that new Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) norms and crew shortages are at the heart of the crisis, the Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA India) has pointed to deeper planning and governance issues.

“The situation concerning the recent flight cancellations across India, allegedly attributed to pilot shortage due to new Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) norms, raises significant questions about the airline's management, regulatory oversight by the DGCA, and market fairness,” ALPA India said in a statement.

It suggested that the crunch may not be a simple regulatory after-effect.

“The core question is whether airlines' current pilot shortage is due to a failure in planning or a calculated strategy. It is more likely a combination of factors... This situation points to a failure of proactive resource planning by dominant airlines, potentially exacerbated by an effort to pressurise the regulator to dilute the promulgated FDTL norms for commercial gain,” the pilots’ body added.