IndiGo’s parent company, InterGlobe Aviation, saw its stock drop sharply on Friday as the airline continued to battle widespread operational failures. By 10:20 am, the stock was trading 2.14% lower at ₹5,326.35 on the BSE, reflecting investor anxiety over massive cancellations and delays that have paralysed flight schedules across India’s busiest airports.
The crisis, which began earlier in the week, has now spiralled into one of IndiGo’s most severe operational breakdowns in recent years. Around 400 flights had already been cancelled by Friday morning, adding to the disruption that has persisted for three straight days. The previous day saw more than 550 cancellations nationwide, with Delhi airport alone reporting at least 172 cancellations. Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Goa also faced serious delays that left thousands of passengers stranded during peak travel hours.
The airline issued a formal apology on X, acknowledging the frustration among travellers and industry stakeholders. It stated that the past two days had seen “widespread disruption across IndiGo’s network and operations” and assured customers that efforts are underway to restore stability. The carrier is coordinating with the Civil Aviation Ministry, DGCA, BCAS, AAI and airport operators to minimise further escalation and smooth out schedules. Passengers have been urged to monitor updates before heading to the airport.
Ordinarily, IndiGo operates nearly 2,300 flights a day and is known for high aircraft and crew utilisation to maintain punctuality. However, its on-time performance collapsed to 19.7% on Wednesday — down sharply from 35% the previous day — marking the worst punctuality figure in the company’s history.
The government stepped in on Thursday, calling an emergency meeting with IndiGo leadership to address the situation. Following the meeting, CEO Pieter Elbers acknowledged in an internal communication that the airline had been hit by “an accumulation of several operational challenges,” including minor technical issues, weather-related delays, traffic congestion and — critically — the enforcement of revised flight duty time limitations (FDTL) affecting pilot scheduling.
To stabilise operations, IndiGo has begun executing planned cancellations and revising schedules to rebalance aircraft and crew availability. Warning signs had surfaced even before the chaos: in November alone, IndiGo cancelled 1,232 flights, leading the DGCA to seek explanations. Despite regulator directives to hire more crew and take proactive measures, cancellations in recent days surged to 170–200 a day before spiking further to around 400 today.
With its trademark punctuality now under strain and passenger frustration rising, investor confidence has also dipped, reflected in the downward pressure on IndiGo’s stock. The timeline for restoring full operations — and whether the airline can regain market trust quickly — is now a critical test for India’s largest carrier.
