Chandigarh: Air travellers using Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport faced another chaotic morning on Thursday as IndiGo’s network-wide disruptions spilled into a third straight day. By 9 a.m., seven flights—five departures and two arrivals—had already been delayed or impacted, adding to the frustration of commuters navigating the peak travel window.
The troubles in Chandigarh mirror a nationwide ripple effect. India’s largest airline cancelled more than 100 flights and delayed many more on Wednesday, triggering long queues, irate passengers and widespread confusion at several major airports.
DGCA steps in as cancellations mount
Taking note of the escalating disruptions, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated a probe. The regulator has demanded a detailed explanation from IndiGo, including the cause of the ongoing breakdown and a roadmap for restoring punctuality.
Officials indicated that IndiGo has begun implementing “calibrated adjustments,” which involve both cancellations and revised timings for several routes. The tweaks, they said, are likely to continue until the carrier stabilises its operations.
Airline cites multiple operational hurdles
IndiGo, which runs roughly 2,300 flights a day across domestic and overseas routes, attributed the cascading issues to a series of unforeseen setbacks. In a statement, the airline apologised to passengers and listed a mix of factors behind the disruptions:
- Minor tech-related glitches
- Winter-related schedule shifts
- Poor weather in certain regions
- Heavier-than-usual airspace congestion
- Crew availability constraints under updated Flight Duty Time Limitation norms
According to the airline, the overlap of these issues created a compounding effect that could not have been predicted.
Passengers vent frustrations online
Footage of stranded passengers raising concerns at terminal counters circulated widely across social media through the day. Travellers complained about last-minute cancellations, hours-long delays, and limited information from ground staff.
Data from aviation authorities showed that the disruptions were not limited to crew shortages alone:
- 258 flights were cancelled due to airport or airspace restrictions
- 92 flights were scrapped following Air Traffic Control system failures
- 127 flights were grounded due to other operational reasons
With the holiday and winter travel surge approaching, passengers are hoping the airline can regain stability quickly. For now, however, those flying out of Chandigarh—and across India—may need to brace for more uncertainty in the skies.
