IndiGo’s flight operations across India continue to face severe disruption, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at major airports including Mumbai, Hyderabad, Guwahati, and Delhi. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has stepped in to ensure that all affected passengers receive timely refunds. Airlines have been ordered to complete the refund process for all cancelled or disrupted flights by 8 PM on Sunday, 7 December 2025. Additionally, no rescheduling charges are to be applied for passengers impacted by cancellations. Any failure to comply may result in regulatory action.
Baggage and Passenger Support Mandates
The Ministry has also instructed IndiGo to trace and deliver all misplaced baggage to passengers’ addresses within 48 hours. Special support cells must be set up to assist senior citizens, differently-abled passengers, students, patients, and anyone requiring urgent travel. Automatic refunds should continue until operations stabilize.
Ongoing Flight Disruptions
Saturday marked the fifth consecutive day of major cancellations, with over 400 flights grounded across India. Delhi Airport alone saw 106 cancellations, while Goa’s Dabolim Airport reported at least 14 flights cancelled. Mumbai witnessed chaotic scenes at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Airport as frustrated passengers confronted airline staff.
Skyrocketing Airfares Add to Chaos
The crisis has caused a massive spike in airfares. One-way economy tickets for SpiceJet from Kolkata to Mumbai on December 6 rose to ₹90,000, while Air India’s Mumbai to Bhubaneswar flights reached ₹84,485. Industry sources note that fares during such disruptions can surge up to six times their normal rates, creating an added financial burden for passengers.
Government Relief Measures and Outlook
In response to the ongoing disruption, the government has also facilitated additional train services to help manage the backlog. IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers has apologized and indicated that normal operations are expected to resume between December 10 and 15.
