Nationwide Travel Hit by IndiGo Disruptions

IndiGo’s large-scale flight cancellations over the past two days have thrown travel plans into disarray across India, dealing a heavy blow to tourism and pilgrim movement. K. Vijay Mohan, President of the Tours and Travels Association of Andhra Pradesh, said the disruption has severely affected Ayyappa devotees, visitors heading to the Hornbill Festival, families travelling for weddings in central and northern India, and international passengers depending on domestic connections.

Passengers at major airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, and Bengaluru faced long delays and confusion on Thursday as IndiGo grounded 175 flights. More than 150 flights were cancelled on Wednesday. According to figures shared with Reuters, Bengaluru saw 73 cancellations, Delhi 30, and Hyderabad 68.

The airline said it had introduced “calibrated adjustments” to its schedule for 48 hours to stabilize operations. IndiGo attributed the disruptions to minor technical issues, winter schedule changes, adverse weather, airspace congestion, and revised crew rostering rules.

Travel industry representatives urged the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to step in immediately. They said airfares on several routes have risen sharply as other airlines increased prices, adding further pressure on stranded travellers. A monitoring system, they said, is needed to keep fares in check.

They also asked the government to coordinate with airlines to add flights on the worst-hit routes and clear the growing backlog of passengers.

Travellers reported a breakdown in real-time flight information, leaving many without updates on delays or cancellations. Industry leaders warned that continued disruption could harm India’s aviation reputation, with international media already highlighting the issue. They said swift intervention is essential to restore normal operations and protect passenger interests.