IndiGo Flight Cancellations Trigger Third Day of Chaos at Hyderabad Airport

Hyderabad, Dec 4: Chaos continued at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) for the third consecutive day on Thursday as IndiGo Airlines cancelled as many as 74 flights, severely disrupting travel plans and leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

According to airport authorities, the cancellations included 37 arrivals and 37 departures, making it one of the worst single-day disruptions at RGIA in recent months. The sudden wave of cancellations caused massive congestion inside and outside the terminal, with stranded passengers waiting for hours amid confusion and anger.

Long queues were seen at IndiGo counters and check-in areas as frustrated travellers demanded clarity on their flight status. Tempers flared inside the terminal as angry passengers confronted airline staff, questioning why flights were scheduled when adequate crew and operational arrangements were not in place. At several points, passengers raised slogans and accused the airline of mismanagement.

Many travellers complained that IndiGo officials were either unavailable or unable to give clear answers. One distressed passenger said he and his wife had a confirmed flight to Mumbai scheduled for Friday morning, but later received rescheduled tickets for Saturday—on separate flights. He also alleged that none of the airline’s customer care helplines were functioning when he tried to seek assistance.

Adding to the misery was the lack of adequate seating arrangements inside the terminal. Elderly passengers, families with children, and those on long-haul connections were seen sitting on the floor with their luggage, waiting for updates.

This is not the first instance of large-scale disruption this week. On December 2, IndiGo had cancelled 40 flights at Hyderabad, including 19 departures and 21 arrivals. Airport sources also confirmed that nine departures and five arrivals remained cancelled on that day due to operational issues.

Key domestic routes affected by the cancellations included Delhi, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Chennai, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Goa, Madurai, and Bhubaneswar, leaving passengers to these destinations particularly distressed.

IndiGo, in a statement, attributed the widespread disruption to a “multitude of unforeseen operational challenges”. These include minor technology glitches, winter-season driven schedule adjustments, adverse weather conditions, increased air traffic congestion, and the implementation of updated Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) for flight crew.

Meanwhile, RGIA authorities advised passengers to check the latest status of their flights directly with airlines before arriving at the airport. In an official advisory posted on social media, RGIA stated that its teams are working closely with airlines to assist passengers and provide timely information amid the disruptions.

With cancellations continuing for the third straight day, passenger confidence has taken a hit, even as authorities and the airline struggle to restore normal operations.

Team Maverick.