'Hard work of months wasted': IndiGo passengers left in tears as crisis enters fifth day

Long queues, repeated cancellations, and visibly distraught passengers defined the scene, even as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) temporarily suspended its Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) directive in an attempt to stabilise operations.

The regulatory pause follows days of mass delays and cancellations across India, with IndiGo — the country’s largest airline — forced to ground or reschedule flights, affecting thousands of passengers.

Flight cancellations continue

Airport officials confirmed that between midnight and 6 am on Saturday, seven arrivals and twelve departures were cancelled at Ahmedabad alone.

The resulting disruption led to overcrowded counters, long waiting lines, and growing frustration among travellers unable to secure alternatives.

Among those most affected was Mahrishi Jani, who broke down while recounting how the cancellations cost his team a rare opportunity they had prepared for over several months.

He had been scheduled to fly to Guwahati via Kolkata to participate in the prestigious Smart India Hackathon 2025.

“We worked for months. Our team of six and two mentors had everything planned, but the flight delay means we cannot go. There is no other way to reach on time. Our effort is wasted,” he told ANI.

Passengers stranded for days

Another passenger, Ikhlaq Hussain, found himself stranded despite arriving from abroad.

After flying into Ahmedabad from Jeddah, he said he had been stuck at the airport for two days waiting for a delayed connection to Lucknow.

Across the country on Friday, flyers faced similar ordeals. A passenger at Jodhpur Airport said IndiGo staff had offered no assistance or clarity.

“We have been standing here since morning. I must reach Bengaluru urgently, but no one is answering,” he said.

At Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport, a passenger attempting to connect to Vietnam described a complete lack of guidance.

She spent three hours seeking an update but was repeatedly told there was “no information.”

With the Bengaluru–Bhubaneswar route taking over a day by road, she had no emergency alternative.

“There is just one staff member; they have no answers. No one is listening,” she said.

Govt orders immediate corrective measures

Responding to the escalating crisis, the Ministry of Civil Aviation issued two directives aimed at restoring stability, particularly within IndiGo’s operations.

The ministry said airlines must act immediately to normalise schedules and assist affected passengers.

According to the order, flight operations are expected to begin stabilising by midnight, with full normalcy anticipated in the coming days.

Passengers have been advised to track delays through updated airline information systems.

The ministry mandated automatic full refunds for cancelled flights, hotel accommodation for stranded travellers, lounge access for senior citizens, and refreshments for passengers on significantly delayed flights.

A 24×7 control room is monitoring the situation round-the-clock.

Centre promises all necessary steps to protect passengers

The government said it remains fully alert to the difficulties faced by flyers and is in continuous consultation with all stakeholders.

It added that every possible measure — including recent regulatory exemptions by DGCA — will be implemented to restore operations and ease the crisis.

As IndiGo works to recover from its severe capacity shortage, airports nationwide continue to brace for further disruptions, leaving passengers hopeful that relief will come sooner rather than later.

Cap on skyrocketing airfare

The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Saturday imposed temporary caps on airfares amid growing complaints about skyrocketing ticket prices, cautioning airlines of strict action for any violations during the ongoing service disruptions.

The ministry said it had “noted concerns over unusually high fares being levied by some airlines amid the current disruption,” prompting an immediate regulatory response.

An official order issued to all carriers now requires “strict compliance with the newly prescribed fare limits.”

Stressing enforcement, the ministry warned that “any departure from the mandated norms will invite swift corrective measures in the public interest.”

The fare controls, it added, are temporary and will remain in place “until operations stabilise completely.”