IndiGo flight cancellations latest news: IndiGo has said that it expects to operate more than 1500 flights by day's end on Saturday, having restored over 95% of network connectivity by serving 135 out of 138 operational destinations. IndiGo typically operates 2300 flights daily. IndiGo has said that its personnel are working to normalise operations, minimise flight delays and assist passengers during this challenging period.
IndiGo operated merely 700 flights on Friday, indicating 1,600 flight cancellations. IndiGo's CEO Pieter Elbers acknowledged the extensive cancellations, confirming "over 1,000 flights" were cancelled on Friday.
The airline recorded the largest number of flight cancellations by an Indian carrier in the nation's aviation history. Additionally, IndiGo's on-time-performance plummeted to 3.7 per cent on Friday due to operational disruptions caused by the implementation of new pilot duty and rest period regulations, according to the Civil Aviation Ministry website.
Starting November 1, the second phase of these regulations redefined night hours from 12am-6am, altered from the previous 12am-5am, and reduced permitted night landings from six to two. These changes affect all domestic airlines in India.
The Gurugram-based carrier IndiGo, partly owned by Rahul Bhatia, has obtained temporary relief from DGCA, allowing them to revert to the previous night duty definition of 12am to 5am and permitting pilots to perform six night landings.
“Addressing the recent disruptions in our network, we had cancelled a significant number of flights and operated little above 700 flights yesterday connecting 113 destinations. The main objective was to reboot the network, systems, and rosters so that we could start afresh today with a higher number of flights, improved stability, and there are some early signs of improvement. While we understand that we have a long way to go, we are committed to build back the trust of our customers….We apologise once again,” the airline said in a statement today.
How To Track IndiGo Flight Status?
If you are planning to fly on an IndiGo flight over the next few days, it is important to check the flight status before heading to the airport. Here is a step-by-step guide to check IndiGo flight status:1. Go to goindigo.in/check-flight-status.html
2. Enter your PNR details and travel date, click on search flight to get the latest flight status
How To Track IndiGo Refund Status?
The airline issued a statement confirming that it is handling all passenger refund requests with urgency.
Here is a step-by-step guide how you can track your refund status on the IndiGo website:
1. Go to goindigo.in/refund.html
2. Enter PNR details — enter your PNR / booking reference number and your Email ID or last name.
3. Click to view the “Refund Summary.” This will show you the current status of your refund — whether it’s still processing, completed, etc.
According to the civil aviation ministry's directive, all refunds for cancelled or disrupted flights must be processed by 8 pm on Sunday. The ministry has said, "Airlines have also been instructed not to levy any rescheduling charges for passengers whose travel plans were affected by cancellations."
The ministry has directed IndiGo to establish dedicated units for passenger assistance and refund processing.
The statement noted, "These cells have been tasked to proactively contact affected passengers and ensure that refunds and alternative travel arrangements are processed without the need for multiple follow-ups. The system of automatic refunds will remain active until operations stabilise completely."
Additionally, the ministry has mandated that the airline must locate and return any misplaced luggage resulting from flight cancellations or delays to passengers within 48 hours.
Airfares capped
The aviation ministry has issued a two-page directive implementing fare restrictions due to capacity limitations and unjustified price increases across various routes. The civil aviation ministry's order clarifies that business class and UDAN flights are exempt from these fare restrictions.
The directive lacks specificity regarding the application of these limits to economy class tickets exclusively or their extension to premium economy seats as well.
The prescribed fare structure sets maximum limits of Rs 7,500 for flights covering distances up to 500 kilometres, Rs 12,000 for 500-1,000 kilometres, Rs 15,000 for 1,000-1,500 kilometres, and Rs 18,000 for flights exceeding 1,500 kilometres.
For illustration, on the Delhi-Mumbai route spanning over 1,300 kilometres, economy class fares cannot exceed Rs 18,000.
The ministry's statement indicates these restrictions will remain effective until conditions normalise.
These caps exclude additional costs such as User Development Fee (UDF), Passenger Service Fee (PSF), and air ticket taxes.
Amid the meltdown, IndiGo said its Board of InterGlobe Aviation is doing “everything possible” to process refunds for cancelled flights, as the parent company steps in with a newly formed Crisis Management Group to oversee the situation.
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