Massive flight disruptions hit air travel across India as IndiGo cancelled over 550 flights in a single day, marking the largest operational shutdown in the airline’s 20-year history. The cascading cancellations have triggered widespread chaos and protests at airports including Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, with passengers expressing concern over delays, lack of updates, and long wait times.
IndiGo attributed the cancellations to a combination of factors including cabin crew shortages, technical issues, and other operational challenges. The airline has warned that cancellations may continue over the next several days. Delhi saw the highest impact with around 150 flights cancelled, followed by Mumbai (118), Bengaluru (100), Hyderabad (75), Kolkata (35), Chennai (26), Goa (11) and Thiruvananthapuram (5).
In response to the large-scale disruption, IndiGo announced a full refund for all cancelled flights, with amounts automatically processed to the original mode of payment. Additionally, the airline has waived cancellation and rescheduling fees for bookings between December 5–15, 2025. Thousands of hotel rooms, ground transport arrangements, and refreshment services have been set up across major airports to accommodate stranded travellers.
At Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (TRV), special facilitation measures have been activated to support passengers affected by the cancellations and delays. These include:
- Enhanced Seating Capacity: Additional seating arranged in both the Check-In and Security Hold Areas.
- Dedicated Airline Coordination: Passenger queries are being promptly coordinated with respective airlines for faster resolutions.
- On-Ground Support: A facilitation team is continuously present in the Security Hold Area to assist passengers.
- Refreshments: Food and beverages distributed according to delay-management protocols.
- Airline Presence: Ensuring airline staff availability for immediate passenger assistance.
Passengers have been advised to double-check flight status before heading to the airport and refer to the IndiGo website for real-time updates.
