IndiGo, one of India's largest airlines, is facing severe operational turbulence, with over 500 flights cancelled in a single day. This marks the fourth consecutive day of massive disruptions, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and furious. The chaos has spilled onto social media, where harrowing tales of ruined plans and financial losses are mounting.
A Wedding Dream Derailed by Flight Chaos
The human cost of the crisis is starkly highlighted by a story shared by Amit Kumar Gupta, founder of Fintrekk Capital. A distant relative's wedding in Goa had to be postponed after an IndiGo flight carrying 48 guests from Delhi was repeatedly delayed and finally cancelled.
With most peak-season bookings in Goa being non-refundable, the family received only a credit note valid for 24 months. The wedding has now been shifted to the National Capital Region (NCR) next month due to a lack of available venues in December.
Gupta detailed the financial blow: the family had booked a five-star hotel for four nights (December 4–7) at approximately ₹35,000 per night. With additional event management fees of ₹15–20 lakh, the estimated total loss stands between ₹16.4 and ₹21.4 lakh.
Passenger Fury and a Call for Government Action
Gupta expressed astonishment at IndiGo's failure to foresee and communicate the disruptions. He also criticized the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), calling its inquiry "useless" for failing to prevent massive losses of time, money, and energy for travellers.
He urgently called for government intervention, demanding strict penalties on IndiGo's management and suggesting operations be handed to an independent professional team. "The present leadership has made a total mess of the travel experience," he alleged.
Gupta further warned that the ripple effects would impact all air travellers. Reduced flight slots could drive fares sharply higher, affecting even those planning trips months in advance. He cited an example where an IndiGo return flight he booked on Black Friday for a March 2026 vacation had doubled in price within a week.
Social Media Erupts with Passenger Stories
The online reaction mirrored the ground reality. While one user philosophically suggested viewing the wedding postponement as a test of patience, Gupta retorted, "Hope you know that in peak season, everything in Goa is non refundable."
Other passengers shared similar nightmares. Pratik Agarwal reported his family's flight was cancelled just three hours before departure, with no refunds as the airline's link was not working. Ratan Mehta recounted how a flight cancellation from Bangalore to Jodhpur on December 4 disrupted his son's wedding on December 6, forcing last-minute rebookings at high costs and leaving many guests stranded.
What is Causing the IndiGo Crisis?
The airline has informed the DGCA that it expects operations to stabilize by February 10. It has sought temporary relaxation of rules restricting pilots' night-time duty hours to manage the situation.
Following a meeting with IndiGo officials, the DGCA stated the disruptions stemmed from planning errors and miscalculations during the rollout of Phase 2 of the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) for crew. IndiGo admitted its actual crew requirement was higher than originally planned.
On Thursday, the airline issued a heartfelt apology to passengers and partners, assuring them it is working urgently to restore normalcy across its network. However, for passengers like Amit Kumar Gupta's family, the apology offers little solace for a wedding that could not take flight.
