IndiGo Flight Chaos: How Passengers Can Get Refunds After 100+ Flights Cancelled in Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai

India's largest airline, IndiGo, is facing one of its biggest operational disruptions in recent years, cancelling and delaying 100-200 flights a day across major cities including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad.

On Thursday alone, 73 IndiGo flights were cancelled in Bengaluru, 33 in Delhi, and 68 in Hyderabad, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at airports, according to reports. At least 150 flights were cancelled on Wednesday, and delays were reported across nearly every metro city. IndiGo's on-time performance has dropped sharply at key hubs as several flight rotations were disrupted.

Reason Behind IndiGo Flights Cancellation

According to aviation sources and internal communications, IndiGo is dealing with a shortage of cockpit crew, primarily because of new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules that came into effect recently. These rules mandate longer rest hours for pilots and restrict the number of night landings they are allowed to perform.
In addition, the airline has also been affected by minor technology glitches and weather-related issues in parts of North and South India.

IndiGo Issues Apology, Announces Schedule Cuts for 48 Hours

In its December 3 statement, IndiGo confirmed that its network has been "significantly disrupted" for the past two days, leading to unavoidable cancellations.

The IndiGo statement read, "A multitude of unforeseen operational challenges, including minor technology glitches, schedule changes linked to the winter season, adverse weather conditions, increased congestion in the aviation system and the implementation of updated crew rostering rules (Flight Duty Time Limitations), had a negative compounding impact on our operations in a way that was not feasible to be anticipated."

Services To Restore In Next 2 Days

The airline further mentioned in its statement that, "We have initiated calibrated adjustments to our schedules. These measures will remain in place for the next 48 hours and will allow us to normalise our operations and progressively recover our punctuality across the network. Our teams are working around the clock to ease customer discomfort and ensure operations stabilise as quickly as possible. Furthermore, the affected customers are being offered alternate travel arrangements to reach their destinations or refunds, as applicable."

How to Get a Refund or Rebook a Cancelled IndiGo Flight: Step-by-Step Guide

According to the DGCA rule, passengers are entitled to a full refund or free rescheduling if the airline cancels the flight. If your IndiGo flight is cancelled, here is the official refund and rebooking process:

1. Visit IndiGo's Website or App and open "Manage Booking" or "Flight Status".

2. Enter PNR + last name.

2. If the flight is cancelled, the system will show automatic options for a full refund or free rebooking.

3. You can then choose "Refund" on the portal. IndiGo usually processes refunds within 2-7 business days. Also the refund mode depends on the original payment method.

4. You can also shift your booking to the next available IndiGo flight. No rebooking charges apply for cancelled flights.

6. If you booked via a travel portal, you must contact MakeMyTrip, Goibibo, Yatra, EaseMyTrip, etc. Refunds must be processed through the agency you booked with.

Advisory for Travellers Before Heading to the Airport

• Check your flight status at least 2-3 hours before departure.
• Expect delays even if your flight is not cancelled.
• Arrive early to avoid long queues
• Keep alternate travel plans ready if travelling for urgent reasons