Why Did IndiGo Cancel 50 Flights Hitting Mumbai and Delhi Operations?

December 23, 2025 at 02:51 PM•2 min read

IndiGo cancelled 50 flights across major airports due to ongoing operational disruptions, while the DGCA investigates manpower and rostering systems.

Key Points

150 IndiGo flights were cancelled on Tuesday across major hubs, including Mumbai, Delhi, and Pune, with the airline not specifying a reason.
2The DGCA previously cut IndiGo's winter schedule by 10% (about 214 daily flights) following thousands of cancellations earlier this month.
3The DGCA's 4-member probe panel, investigating manpower planning and pilot duty rest norms, has extended its report deadline to December 26, 2025, to analyze extensive data.
4The operational chaos has led to a separate inquiry by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and a focus by the airline's CEO on resilience and root-cause analysis.

IndiGo cancelled roughly 50 domestic flights on Tuesday. This action hit major hubs across India. Airports like Mumbai, Delhi, and Pune were affected. The airline did not specify a reason for these cancellations.

These IndiGo flight cancellations follow massive operational disruptions. Thousands of flights were cancelled earlier this month. This caused severe inconvenience to lakhs of passengers. The recent cancellations affect multiple cities. These include Varanasi, Chandigarh, and Amritsar. Indore and Patna operations were also impacted.

Regulatory Scrutiny Intensifies

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) took swift action. They reduced the airline's IndiGo winter schedule by 10 percent. This followed the massive disruptions in service. This cut restricts IndiGo to 1,930 flights daily. This is down from an initial 2,144 flights per day. The government cited the airline's operational inability. The move aims to stabilize flight operations. It also seeks to match the available pilot strength.

The Ongoing DGCA Investigation

The DGCA probe panel continues its investigation. This four-member committee is examining the core issues. They focus on airline manpower planning. Fluctuating rostering systems are also under review. The panel checks preparedness for new pilot duty rest norms. These norms govern crew duty period and rest.

Probe Panel Deadline Extended

IndiGo's Chief Executive Officer Pieter Elbers was questioned. Chief Operating Officer Isidre Porqueras also provided testimony. The panel sought more time for data analysis. They received a large volume of data from the airline. The report deadline is now Friday, December 26, 2025. The panel's findings will guide corrective actions.

Industry and Passenger Impact

These aviation operational disruptions caused severe hardship. The cancellations directly impact Mumbai Delhi operations. The market has seen immediate effects. Tighter seat inventory is an immediate impact. Fares on key routes have also increased.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) opened an inquiry. This focuses on the large-scale service disruptions. This highlights the serious nature of the chaos. Other airlines are adding extra flights to compensate. This helps stabilize connectivity during the peak season.

IndiGo CEO Elbers said their focus is now three-fold. These areas are resilience, root-cause analysis, and rebuilding. The situation underscores the need for systemic resilience. Continued regulatory oversight is necessary for the sector. For the latest commercial aviation news and updates, stakeholders must monitor the DGCA's report.