India’s largest airline, IndiGo, has cancelled 562 flights across six metropolitan airports, triggering widespread travel disruptions and long queues at terminals. Bengaluru emerged as the worst-hit city, with 150 cancellations reported in a single day, leaving passengers scrambling for alternate arrangements.
Airport officials say the cancellations stem from a mix of operational constraints, including crew shortages, aircraft rotation issues, and weather-related delays that created a cascading effect across the network. The disruptions affected routes to Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, and Pune, with several short-haul and connecting flights grounded.
Stranded travellers at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport described scenes of confusion as departure boards rapidly updated with cancellations. Many complained of delayed notifications, long waits for rebooking, and difficulty securing last-minute seats on other airlines. Some passengers said they were offered hotel accommodations or refunds, while others were asked to reschedule for flights available only after significant delays.
IndiGo issued a statement acknowledging the cancellations and apologising to affected passengers, saying the airline is “working to stabilise operations as quickly as possible.” It added that additional crew and aircraft have been deployed to restore normal schedules.
Aviation experts note that any disruption at a high-volume hub like Bengaluru creates ripple effects nationwide due to IndiGo’s dense flight network. They warn that the industry remains sensitive to staffing imbalances and aircraft availability, especially during peak travel periods.
Authorities said they are monitoring the situation, and airlines have been asked to ensure timely communication and support for stranded passengers. Travellers are advised to check updated schedules before heading to airports, as residual delays are expected until operations fully normalise.