IndiGo flight cancellation crisis LIVE updates: Airline cancels 400 flights from four major airports; flyers stranded
IndiGo flight cancellation crisis LIVE updates: When were airfares capped last time? Airfares were last capped during the COVID-19 pandemic five years ago, according to Reuters.
IndiGo flight cancellation crisis: ‘Loot is going on, should be stopped,’ Congress MP Rajeev Shukla on increasing airfares amid airline chaosIndiGo flight cancellation crisis LIVE updates: Centre acts against surge in airfares amid flight disruptions
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has expressed serious concern over the unusually high airfares being charged by some airlines during the ongoing operational disruptions, according to an official release, reported ANI. To safeguard passengers from opportunistic pricing, the Ministry has exercised its regulatory authority to ensure that fares remain fair and reasonable on all affected routes.
“An official directive has been issued to all airlines mandating strict adherence to the fare caps that have now been prescribed. These caps will remain in force until the situation fully stabilises,” the release said, as per HT.
It added, “The objective of this directive is to maintain pricing discipline in the market, prevent any exploitation of passengers in distress, and ensure that citizens who urgently need to travel – including senior citizens, students, and patients – are not subjected to financial hardship during this period.”
The ministry further stated that it will keep a close watch on fare levels using real-time data and maintain active coordination with airlines and online travel platforms. Any violation of the established pricing norms will prompt immediate corrective measures in the interest of the public, it said
Jack Sukhija, president of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa, stated on Friday that IndiGo holds over 60 percent of the Indian aviation market, and any disruption in its flight operations is likely to negatively affect the tourism sector, as per PTI. He emphasised that such large-scale disruptions could significantly impact tourism, which is a major source of revenue for Goa.
At least 14 IndiGo domestic flights from Goa’s Dabolim Airport were cancelled on Saturday amid the airline’s ongoing operational disruptions, a senior official said, according to PTI. Many passengers were left stranded outside the airport in South Goa, as several cancellations were announced at the last minute.
The South Central Railway announced on Saturday that it will operate four special trains to handle the increased passenger load caused by the widespread cancellation of IndiGo flights, reported PTI. The decision comes amid severe disruptions at the airport, where travellers are facing long queues and significant inconvenience due to the cancellations.
A senior airport official in Pune, as per PTI, stated, “We are monitoring the situation closely, and all teams, including ground-handling agencies and security staff, were fully deployed to ensure smooth operations.”
The airport administration said it is closely in contact with airlines, ground handling agencies, Air Traffic Control, CISF and terminal service partners to manage congestion and help affected passengers.
A day after DGCA withdrew crew weekly rest requirements, IndiGo has cancelled 400 flights from four major airports on Saturday, PTI reported citing sources.
Chennai Airport sees major disruptions on Saturday as a total of 48 flights scheduled to operate till tonight were cancelled, impacting passengers travelling to key domestic destinations, including Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Andaman, Lucknow, Pune and others, according to ANI.IndiGo’s mass cancellations stem from a sharp pilot shortage. New Flight Duty Time limitations (FDTL) rules raised weekly rest to 48 hours, extended night limits and cut night landings to two. DGCA has now given exemptions and relaxations. So, more pilots can return to duty.
IndiGo’s nationwide disruptions left Jammu airport nearly empty, as passengers reported not receiving clear updates. Some claimed relatives had faced delays of up to 12 hours.
The airline stated that most flights to Jammuhad resumed. Yet, 7 Srinagar flights were cancelled on Saturday due to ongoing operational issues.
More than 100 flights have been cancelled in Bengaluru. IndiGo has cancelled 61 arriving flights and 63 departure flights on 6 December.
At Jaipur airport, 25 IndiGo flights have been cancelled. Among these, 13 are departure flights while 12 are arrival flights. According to the Airport Operations Control Centre (AOCC) Jaipur, the numbers are likely to change.
IndiGo’s ongoing flight cancellations continued to trouble passengers, with the majority of services from Indore still suspended, reported ANI.
Travellers arriving from different cities said they were still waiting for their baggage, while several passengers whose flights were rescheduled reported that their luggage had not been transported with them. Many of them returned to Indore’s Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport on Friday in an effort to locate their missing belongings.
“A delayed flight is frustrating, but remember the faces trying to fix it. Please be nice and humble to the IndiGo staff; they are carrying the weight of cancellations too. Let’s support them,” Sonu Sood said on X.
As per ANI, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said, “…I said yesterday as well that we will have positive news within 24 hours. The positive news is here. Situation has improved a little today itself. Operations will be normal in 2-3 days.”
He added, “Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar is such a personality who showed a path to the oppressed society and the society feels empowered by walking his path. He drafted the Constitution and by walking its path, the country is developing.”
