BENGALURU: Chaos unfolded at Kempegowda International Airport on Friday as IndiGo flights faced massive disruptions, leaving passengers frustrated and stranded.According to airport officials, 52 arrivals and 50 departures of IndiGo flights have been cancelled so far at Bengaluru, with a spokesperson saying the next update would be shared after 6 PM.
“Bengaluru Airport’s T1 is an absolute mess right now – people have been stuck here since last night with zero clear communication from IndiGo, just long queues, confused staff and no updates on what’s happening. This is not a minor disruption anymore, it’s a full-blown fiasco”, said a user on ‘X’.Also read: ‘Air India dekho ya koi aur’: Bengaluru woman going for father’s ‘asthi visarjan’ rues IndiGo chaosThe airline has been grappling with a crisis across India, with 225 flights cancelled at Delhi, 104 in Mumbai, 92 in Hyderabad and 102 in Bengaluru.The disruptions mark a record for the 20-year-old airline, which has cited pilot shortages and crew duty-limit issues as the primary reasons.Frustrated passengers complained about long queues, no staff support, uncertainty over alternative flights, and hours-long waits at baggage belts.Many shared photos on X showing crowds sleeping on luggage, overflowing check-in areas, and piles of unattended bags—unsure whether to go home or hope for a last-minute update.Sharing a post on X, one user wrote, “Spent the last 4h at Bangalore airport. Some people have been here for more than 13 hours. Every single Indigo flight has been delayed significantly and then cancelled. I still find privilege in having the opportunity to try and get on any flight so I can get to my meetings, yet, no flights available until 24h from now. This is not progress. Thousands stranded.”Inside the terminal, long queues snaked across check-in counters and security lines, with seating areas completely full.At several airports, frustration boiled over—angry flyers protested at gates, and the chaos even disrupted boarding for other airlines.Airlines reportedly increased fares amid the crunch. A Delhi–Bengaluru ticket for Friday/Saturday ranged between Rs 11,000 and Rs 43,145, while Mumbai–Kolkata fares touched Rs 19,000. With IndiGo operating 65% of India’s domestic market, disruptions have hit other carriers too. Aircraft stuck at airports like Pune delayed the movement of other airlines.The DGCA held multiple emergency meetings and directed IndiGo to stabilise operations immediately and ensure fares do not rise due to reduced capacity.“To reduce passenger inconvenience while maintaining safety margins, IndiGo has requested operational variations/exemptions from specific FDTL provisions for A320 operations up to 10th February 2026.IndiGo has assured DGCA that corrective actions are underway and that normalized and stable operations will be fully restored by 10 February 2026,” the regulator said after meeting the airline management.
