Delhi Airport Issues Passenger Advisory Amid Major Flight Disruptions
Passengers traveling through Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport faced severe travel chaos on Friday as the airport authority issued an advisory warning of significant operational disruptions. The advisory highlighted major disruptions affecting a large number of domestic flights, leading to widespread delays and cancellations across the network.
The airport explicitly urged all travelers to check the real-time status of their flights directly with their respective airlines before commencing their journey to the airport. This precautionary step was advised to prevent unnecessary crowding and long waits at the terminals.
Scale of the Disruption: Hundreds of Flights Grounded
As per reports from news agency ANI, the scale of the disruption was substantial. Officials confirmed that a staggering 225 IndiGo flights, combining both arrivals and departures, had been cancelled since morning operations began. This mass cancellation severely impacted the travel plans of thousands of passengers.
Latest estimates suggest the nationwide impact was even more severe, with over 500 IndiGo flights potentially cancelled across India on Friday alone. The airline has recently been cancelling between 170 to 200 flights per day, a figure far higher than its normal operational levels, indicating a deep-rooted systemic issue.
Root Cause: Crew Shortage and Regulatory Exemptions
The primary driver behind this operational meltdown is an escalating crew-shortage crisis at IndiGo. In response, the airline has formally sought temporary exemptions from specific Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules for its Airbus A320 fleet. The airline has requested this relief to continue until February 10, 2026.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India's aviation regulator, conducted a detailed review with IndiGo's top leadership regarding the situation. Following this review, the DGCA stated that the airline has provided assurances that corrective measures are actively being implemented. IndiGo has committed to restoring full operational stability by the aforementioned deadline of February 10, 2026.
On the ground, teams at Delhi Airport are coordinating closely with all carriers, especially IndiGo, to minimize passenger inconvenience and maintain comfort levels within the airport facilities during this challenging period.
Passengers are once again strongly advised to stay in constant touch with their airlines for the latest updates on rescheduling and refunds as the situation continues to evolve.
