Aviation / IndiGo Chaos Leaves Bhubaneswar Flyers Stranded as Fares Skyrocket Nationwide
·3 months ago·3 min read
Key Points
- IndiGo flight delays left Bhubaneswar passengers stranded for hours with minimal updates.
- Nationwide disruption led to flight cancellations and record-high airfares across major routes.
- IndiGo blamed crew shortages linked to new FDTL rules, triggering mass cancellations.
Bhubaneswar, Dec 5: Passengers at the Biju Patnaik International Airport faced major inconvenience on Friday as IndiGo flights were delayed for hours, sparking frustration among travellers who had been waiting since Thursday. Many passengers complained that despite long delays, IndiGo’s reservation counter in Bhubaneswar did not provide clear or satisfactory updates, leaving several stranded with little clarity on revised schedules.
Some travellers, who had been waiting since the previous night, said queues had formed outside the airline’s counter as passengers sought ticket cancellations, refunds or rebooking. The delays follow Thursday’s severe turbulence in IndiGo’s nationwide operations, where 16 flights were cancelled from Bhubaneswar alone, aggravating the backlog of stranded passengers.
The ripple effects were felt across India after IndiGo cancelled all domestic departures from Delhi Airport until 11:59 pm on Friday, triggering a sharp surge in ticket prices on alternative routes. Delhi Airport confirmed the suspension on its official X handle, clarifying that all other airlines continued normal operations and urging passengers to verify flight status before travelling.
The sudden grounding created an immediate shortage of seats, pushing fares to record levels. An Air India one-stop flight from Delhi to Bengaluru touched Rs 1.02 lakh, while Akasa Air quoted around Rs 39,000 for the same route. Delhi–Mumbai fares on Air India peaked at Rs 60,000, and Chennai–Delhi tickets reached Rs 41,000 on Air India Express and Rs 69,000 on SpiceJet.
Hyderabad-bound routes were also hit hard. A Hyderabad–Delhi Air India one-stop fare climbed to Rs 87,000, Hyderabad–Mumbai tickets touched Rs 76,500, and Hyderabad–Bengaluru fares rose to Rs 41,400 on Air India.
The aviation disruption has been massive, with over 220 IndiGo cancellations in Delhi, more than 100 in Bengaluru, and nearly 90 in Hyderabad. In November alone, IndiGo recorded more than 1,200 cancellations, and on Thursday, over 500 flights were grounded nationwide.
IndiGo attributed the ongoing disruptions to the rollout of new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms for pilots, which aim to reduce fatigue and enhance safety. The airline acknowledged that it had underestimated crew requirements under the revised rules, resulting in widespread shortages and scheduling challenges.
Also Read: IndiGo Faces Backlash from Actress Over Chaotic Flight Disruptions
As operations remain strained, thousands of passengers across India — including many in Bhubaneswar — continue to face long waits, last-minute cancellations, and uncertainty about travel plans.
Some travellers, who had been waiting since the previous night, said queues had formed outside the airline’s counter as passengers sought ticket cancellations, refunds or rebooking. The delays follow Thursday’s severe turbulence in IndiGo’s nationwide operations, where 16 flights were cancelled from Bhubaneswar alone, aggravating the backlog of stranded passengers.
The ripple effects were felt across India after IndiGo cancelled all domestic departures from Delhi Airport until 11:59 pm on Friday, triggering a sharp surge in ticket prices on alternative routes. Delhi Airport confirmed the suspension on its official X handle, clarifying that all other airlines continued normal operations and urging passengers to verify flight status before travelling.
The sudden grounding created an immediate shortage of seats, pushing fares to record levels. An Air India one-stop flight from Delhi to Bengaluru touched Rs 1.02 lakh, while Akasa Air quoted around Rs 39,000 for the same route. Delhi–Mumbai fares on Air India peaked at Rs 60,000, and Chennai–Delhi tickets reached Rs 41,000 on Air India Express and Rs 69,000 on SpiceJet.
Hyderabad-bound routes were also hit hard. A Hyderabad–Delhi Air India one-stop fare climbed to Rs 87,000, Hyderabad–Mumbai tickets touched Rs 76,500, and Hyderabad–Bengaluru fares rose to Rs 41,400 on Air India.
The aviation disruption has been massive, with over 220 IndiGo cancellations in Delhi, more than 100 in Bengaluru, and nearly 90 in Hyderabad. In November alone, IndiGo recorded more than 1,200 cancellations, and on Thursday, over 500 flights were grounded nationwide.
IndiGo attributed the ongoing disruptions to the rollout of new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms for pilots, which aim to reduce fatigue and enhance safety. The airline acknowledged that it had underestimated crew requirements under the revised rules, resulting in widespread shortages and scheduling challenges.
Also Read: IndiGo Faces Backlash from Actress Over Chaotic Flight Disruptions
As operations remain strained, thousands of passengers across India — including many in Bhubaneswar — continue to face long waits, last-minute cancellations, and uncertainty about travel plans.
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