IndiGo crisis deepens: Airline cancels all flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Jammu

Hundreds of passengers faced hardships at the airports as flights were delayed for long periods. The passengers voiced strong frustration over the severe disruption, leaving many stranded without clear communication or alternate travel options. Passengers said that disruptions, attributed to staff shortages and new rules for crew members, have left travellers stranded at airports for hours without proper communication, food, or water.
One of the passengers said that they have not received any communication from the airline, and the fare on other airlines has doubled.
"I had an IndiGo flight from Ahmedabad to Varanasi scheduled yesterday...After numerous delays, we cancelled our flight, but we did not get back our luggage on time. We have been stranded here for almost 10-12 hours now, and we have received neither water nor food. It is a chaotic situation here. Taking another flight also doesn't seem very possible, other airlines have increased their airfare...The fare on other airlines has doubled-troubled," the passenger said.
Tarang Rathod, whose Delhi flight was cancelled, said that they arrived at 7:30 AM for a 9:45 AM flight with no prior cancellation notice. Their rescheduled one-stop flight causes a 12-hour delay, and alternate flights cost three times more, around Rs 24,000–30,000 per adult.
IndiGo, which is experiencing operational disruptions and cancellations, has sought temporary operational exemptions from certain Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) provisions for its A320 fleet until February 10, 2026, and assured that operational stability will be restored by that date, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a statement.