IndiGo has officially announced the complete reinstatement and normalisation of its flight operations across the entire network.
However, this announcement follows days of significant disruption that left thousands of passengers stranded at major airports. Consequently, the airline released a press statement on Tuesday and confirmed that it will now operate all scheduled flights. Nevertheless, operations will proceed with an adjusted network to ensure reliability and prevent further cancellations in the immediate future.
Furthermore, the budget carrier confirmed a massive improvement in service recovery after the recent operational meltdown. In addition, they noted that nearly all baggage that had been stuck at various airports has been successfully delivered. Currently, dedicated teams are working tirelessly to deliver the few remaining bags to customers at the earliest.
Regarding this, the airline stated that nearly all misplaced bags have been returned to their rightful owners. Moreover, IndiGo reported operating more than 1,800 flights on the day of the statement, connecting all 138 stations. Additionally, the airline plans to fly nearly 1,900 flights the following day, signalling a return to scale.
As a result, the airline asserted that operational optimisation had been successful following the recent logistical challenges. Significantly, its on-time performance (OTP) is reportedly back to normal levels after plummeting during the crisis. In response to the widespread inconvenience caused, IndiGo has introduced an automated, “No Questions Asked” refund procedure.
Therefore, customers can receive full refunds upon cancellations through a simple, streamlined process on the official website. Finally, the airline concluded its statement by regretting the disruption and sincerely apologising to all affected customers. Nonetheless, customers are strongly advised to check the latest flight status on IndiGo’s website before proceeding.
However, the government has taken strict action by ordering a 10 per cent cut in IndiGo’s winter schedule. This decision came shortly after the airline’s CEO, Pieter Elbers, met with Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu. Consequently, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) doubled the curtailment from an earlier 5 per cent order.
Notably, this operational crisis began on December 2, marked by mass flight delays and cancellations across India. Primarily, severe pilot shortages disrupted after the airline failed to adapt to new rules. Specifically, the government introduced these new pilot rest and duty regulations (FDTL) early last year.
As a result, key metropolitan cities, including New Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, recorded major disruptions. Unfortunately, the situation escalated dramatically, with Friday marking one of the worst aviation crises in the country. In fact, airlines cancelled at least 1,600 flights on that single day, causing unprecedented chaos for travellers.
Subsequently, the staggering number of cancellations continued through the weekend, impacting thousands of planned journeys. For instance, airlines cancelled more than 700 flights on Saturday and over 650 flights on Sunday. This occurred despite the government offering temporary exemptions to the private carrier to help stabilise its operations.
Meanwhile, sources detailed the extent of the impact on Saturday, reporting 124 cancellations in Bengaluru alone. Similarly, Mumbai saw 109 cancellations, while New Delhi and Hyderabad recorded 86 and 66 cancellations, respectively. Ultimately, this widespread air disruption left thousands of passengers stranded, highlighting the fragility of the current aviation network.
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