IndiGo Cancellations Persist for Fourth Day, 92 Flights Scrapped at Hyderabad Airport, Passenger Protests Erupt

Hyderabad, Dec 2025 : Chaos continued unabated at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) on Friday as IndiGo Airlines cancelled a massive 92 flights in a single day, marking the fourth consecutive day of large-scale disruptions. The ongoing cancellations have left thousands of passengers stranded, triggering angry scenes inside the terminal and intensifying pressure on the airline and airport authorities.

According to an airport spokesperson, the 92 cancelled flights included 43 arrivals and 49 departures — the highest number recorded over the last four days. On Thursday, the airline had cancelled 74 flights, while the total number of cancellations since December 2 has now surged to 220, severely affecting air connectivity from Telangana’s busiest aviation hub.

The uninterrupted disruptions triggered strong protests from distressed passengers at the terminal building. Tempers flared as several travellers confronted IndiGo staff, accusing the airline of poor planning and lack of communication. In multiple instances, passengers alleged that their flights were cancelled only after they had already completed the check-in process, leaving them with few immediate alternatives.

Scenes of chaos unfolded across the terminal as long queues formed at airline counters and help desks. Frustrated travellers were seen surrounding airline officials, demanding clarity on rescheduling, refunds and alternative arrangements. Raised voices, emotional exchanges and slogans of “shame” echoed through sections of the terminal as passengers questioned why flights were scheduled when crew and operational staff were reportedly unavailable.

The repeated cancellations dealt a major blow to travellers on key domestic routes connecting Hyderabad to Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Goa, Madurai and Bhubaneswar. Many business travellers, families and students reported being stranded for hours with no confirmed travel plans in sight.

A particularly distressing situation emerged for a large group of Ayyappa devotees who were scheduled to fly to Kochi but found themselves stuck at the airport due to sudden cancellations. As a mark of protest and devotion, the stranded pilgrims were seen chanting “Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa” inside the terminal, drawing attention to their plight.

Andhra Pradesh Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy, who was present at RGIA to board a flight to Vijayawada, stepped in to assist the stranded devotees. The minister contacted Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu over the phone, seeking immediate intervention to arrange a special flight for the pilgrims. However, Parthasarathy himself missed his scheduled flight amid the chaos and was later forced to travel to Vijayawada by road.

The impact of IndiGo’s operational crisis was not limited to Hyderabad alone. At Visakhapatnam airport, eight IndiGo flights were cancelled on Friday, further widening the scale of disruption. Passengers heading to major destinations such as Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad staged protests at the Visakhapatnam terminal as well, expressing frustration over repeated cancellations and lack of timely information.

Responding to the crisis, IndiGo said the disruptions were caused by “a multitude of unforeseen operational challenges.” The airline cited a combination of factors, including minor technology-related issues, winter-season schedule adjustments, adverse weather conditions, rising congestion across the aviation network and the implementation of updated Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) for crew members.

Meanwhile, airport authorities at RGIA issued an advisory urging passengers to check the latest flight status with their respective airlines before proceeding to the airport. Officials said efforts were being made to manage crowd control and passenger assistance, but acknowledged that the scale of cancellations had significantly strained resources.

As disruptions enter their fifth day, frustration among travellers continues to mount, with many calling for stricter regulatory scrutiny and accountability from airlines to prevent a repeat of such widespread operational breakdowns.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)