By: The Trek News Desk
India’s largest airline, IndiGo, remained mired in operational chaos for the fifth consecutive day on Saturday. After cancelling more than 1,000 flights on Friday (December 5, 2025), the carrier scrapped several hundred additional services on Saturday (December 6). Major airports across the country witnessed confusion and long queues as passengers scrambled for alternatives.
In view of the worsening situation, the government has granted the airline a temporary exemption from new operating rules until February 10.
All-Day Shutdown at Delhi, Chennai and Major Route Suspensions from Bengaluru
To break the chain reaction of widespread delays, IndiGo halted all departures from Delhi Airport for the entire day on Saturday, citing the need to reset its systems.
The airline also cancelled every domestic flight from Chennai and suspended all Bengaluru–Delhi and Bengaluru–Mumbai services for the day.
With Flights Grounded, Passengers Turn to Trains
Thousands of stranded flyers were left with no choice but to rush to nearby railway stations as fares on other airlines surged dramatically.
To accommodate the sudden spike in demand, Indian Railways added extra AC coaches and began boosting capacity on high-traffic routes.
Political Repercussions: Congress MP Flags ‘Unprecedented Aviation Crisis’
Telangana Congress MP Mallu Ravi wrote to Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, warning of a “severe and unprecedented disruption” in India’s aviation network.
He highlighted:
- Over 550 flights cancelled or delayed,
- IndiGo’s on-time performance dropped to 19.7%,
- And the vulnerabilities exposed by India’s heavy dependence on one dominant private airline.
He urged the government to take immediate corrective measures to stabilise the sector.
Hyderabad Airport: 69 Flights Cancelled
Officials at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport confirmed that 69 flights, 26 arrivals and 43 departures were cancelled on Saturday. Passengers were advised to remain in touch with the airline for the latest updates.
Disruptions Spread to Thiruvananthapuram and Ahmedabad
Operational setbacks extended into southern and western India as well.
At Thiruvananthapuram Airport, six domestic flights, covering the Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru sectors, were cancelled throughout the day.
IndiGo had a total of 26 scheduled movements at the airport, including 22 domestic and 4 international services.
Airfares Hit Record Highs: Kolkata-Mumbai at ₹90,000, Mumbai-Bhubaneswar at ₹84,000
With IndiGo pulling a large chunk of its capacity due to crew shortages and new duty-time regulations, airfares soared to unprecedented levels.
- A SpiceJet one-way, one-stop Kolkata-Mumbai economy ticket shot up to ₹90,000.
- An Air India Mumbai-Bhubaneswar ticket touched ₹84,485.
Travel industry insiders said the market has become unpredictable, with fares doubling, tripling, or even exceeding normal ranges within hours.
Source: News Agencies
