IndiGo canceled 33 flights at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport and 68 at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, as per airport sources. The disruptions stem from crew shortages due to new flight duty time limits, tech glitches, weather, and congestion, leaving thousands stranded nationwide.
IndiGo's operational meltdown intensified with 33 flight cancellations at Delhi airport and a staggering 68 at Hyderabad—35 arrivals and 33 departures—triggering chaos on December 4. These cuts are part of over 200 nationwide cancellations in recent days, driven by a perfect storm of challenges. New Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules have slashed available pilots, compounded by minor tech issues, winter schedule shifts, adverse weather, and airport congestion.
Passengers faced frustration with poor communication, long delays, and no clear rebooking options, sparking anger at screens flashing IndiGo cancellations. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) summoned IndiGo's top brass for explanations and a recovery plan amid peak travel season. IndiGo apologized, citing "unforeseen compounding effects," and rolled out 48-hour schedule tweaks to restore punctuality, offering refunds or alternatives to affected travelers.
Key Highlights:
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33 IndiGo flights canceled at Delhi; 68 at Hyderabad (35 arrivals, 33 departures) on Dec 4.
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Root causes: New FDTL crew rules, tech glitches, weather, and congestion.
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Over 200 flights axed nationwide in 2 days; thousands stranded.
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DGCA probes disruptions, demands airline action plan.
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IndiGo adjusts schedules for 48 hours; refunds/alternatives offered.
Sources: Mathrubhumi, Economic Times, News18, NDTV, Times of India, Indian Express