IndiGo Airlines Faces Major Flight Cancellations at Hyderabad Airport: What’s Going On?

Flight Disruptions at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport

Hyderabad: Chaos reigned at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) on Friday as IndiGo Airlines announced the cancellation of 92 flights for the day.

This marks the fourth consecutive day of cancellations, leaving thousands of travelers in distress.

According to an airport representative, the cancellations included 43 incoming and 49 outgoing flights.

This is the highest number of cancellations recorded over the past four days, following 74 cancellations the previous day.

In total, 220 flights have been scrapped since December 2.

The ongoing cancellations led to protests from frustrated passengers at the terminal, where heated exchanges occurred with IndiGo staff.

A group of travelers was seen confronting an airline official, demanding answers regarding their canceled flights, particularly after they had already checked in.

The disruption of key domestic routes has significantly affected travel plans for many passengers.

Numerous travelers found themselves stranded at the airport, with long lines forming both inside and outside the terminal. Tensions escalated as passengers confronted airline personnel, questioning why flights were scheduled without adequate staffing. Some even shouted slogans of 'shame' in frustration.

Key domestic routes to cities such as Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Goa, Madurai, and Bhubaneswar were particularly impacted.

Additionally, many Ayyappa devotees were left stranded due to canceled flights to Kochi, leading them to chant slogans of 'Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa' in protest.

Andhra Pradesh Minister Kolusu Partha Sarathy, who was at the airport to catch a flight to Vijayawada, intervened to assist the stranded devotees. He contacted Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu to arrange a special flight.

After missing his own flight to Vijayawada, the minister opted to travel by road instead.

At Visakhapatnam airport, eight IndiGo flights were also canceled, affecting routes to major destinations like Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad, prompting further protests from passengers.

IndiGo has cited a range of unforeseen operational challenges for the disruptions, including minor technology issues, seasonal schedule adjustments, adverse weather conditions, increased congestion in the aviation sector, and the enforcement of updated Flight Duty Time Limitations for crew members.

Airport authorities have urged travelers to verify the status of their flights with their airlines before arriving at the airport.