If you were flying between the UAE and India this weekend, chances are your plans went down the spiral like others. IndiGo, the biggest airline in India, cancelled hundreds of flights on Friday, leaving UAE passengers and others stuck at airports. Passengers kept refreshing their apps and trying not to lose their minds. The cancellations didn’t come out of nowhere; the airline has been dealing with a “serious operational crisis,” and travellers are the ones suffering.
IndiGo’s Flight Cancellations Leave UAE Travellers Stranded
The tension started building earlier in the week when India’s aviation authorities introduced strict new safety rules. These included tighter limits on how long pilots can fly and sharper restrictions for night operations. These rules went straight into effect and hit IndiGo the hardest. With more than 60% of the domestic market under its wing, the airline suddenly found itself short of available crew hours, and flights began to collapse one after another, as reported by the National.
As routes vanished from departure boards, passengers faced long delays and cancellations. Some even watched their flights get grounded while they were already at the airport. Finding last-minute alternative routes wasn’t easy either, because fares skyrocketed as soon as the cancellations began.
A Temporary Pause, But No Quick Fix
By Friday, the situation had spiralled enough for the aviation ministry to step in. They put the new rules on hold to ease congestion and calm things down. But IndiGo warned that recovery would take time. Resetting an entire schedule, especially during a crisis, isn’t a simple step.
Across India, airports were filled with crowds of irritated travellers expressing their grievances. Others took their frustration to social media, tagging IndiGo in posts and demanding answers. In response, the airline issued a public apology, acknowledging the mess and promising to work on stabilising services as mentioned on their X account.
A Wider Industry Ripple
This blow hits at an interesting time for India’s aviation sector. The country recently crossed a major milestone, half a million daily flyers. IndiGo, with its massive network and big international plans, plays a huge role in sustaining that momentum. Around 90% of India’s population lives within reach of an IndiGo-served airport, which means disruption on this scale affects an enormous number of people.
And it’s not the only problem on their plate. Just last week, 200 of the airline’s aircraft were caught up in a global Airbus alert that required urgent software upgrades for thousands of planes worldwide.
Also Read: After 2,000+ Cancelled Flights Over 5 Days, IndiGo Announces 1,500+ Flights On Sunday
What Travellers Should Expect
The airline is working to stabilise things, but a full recovery won’t be instant. If you’re flying soon, check your flight status often and keep backup plans in mind.
Cover Image Courtesy: IndiGo/X, CanvaPro/ Josh Sorenson from Pexels
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