IndiGo Stock Falls 2% as Massive Flight Cancellations Disrupt Travel Nationwide

IndiGo’s parent company, InterGlobe Aviation, witnessed a sharp decline in its stock price on Friday as the airline continued to grapple with severe operational disruptions. Shares slipped over 2% on the BSE, trading at ₹5,326.35 around 10 am, amid widespread cancellations and mounting passenger frustration.

What started earlier this week has escalated into one of IndiGo’s most significant operational meltdowns in recent years. As of Friday morning, around 400 flights had already been cancelled, adding to the cascading disruption that has now persisted for three straight days.

On Thursday alone, IndiGo scrapped more than 550 domestic and international flights, with Delhi airport accounting for at least 172 cancellations. Major hubs including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Goa also recorded heavy delays and last-minute schedule changes, leaving thousands stranded during peak travel hours.

Amid the backlash, IndiGo issued a public apology on X, acknowledging the widespread inconvenience:
“The last two days have seen widespread disruption across IndiGo’s network and operations. We extend a heartfelt apology to all our customers and industry stakeholders who have been impacted by these events.”

The airline is now coordinating with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, DGCA, BCAS, AAI and multiple airport operators to stabilise schedules and contain further fallout. Travellers are being advised to check flight statuses proactively before heading to airports.

IndiGo, which typically runs 2,300 flights daily, has seen its on-time performance crash to 19.7%, down from 35% the previous day—its lowest ever.

Sources said an emergency meeting was held on Thursday with top officials from the Civil Aviation Ministry and the DGCA. In an internal message, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers described the disruption as the result of “an accumulation of several operational challenges,” including:

• Minor technical issues

• Sudden schedule adjustments

• Adverse weather

• Airspace congestion

• Stricter Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms

To regain balance, the airline has initiated planned schedule revisions and pre-emptive cancellations to better align aircraft and crew resources. However, the strain had been visible earlier—IndiGo cancelled 1,232 flights in November, drawing scrutiny from the DGCA.

Despite regulatory direction to hire more staff and improve resilience, cancellations have now surged to 170–200 flights daily, and today’s 400+ cancellations highlight the deepening crisis.

Investor sentiment has slipped sharply as IndiGo’s long-standing reputation for punctuality and reliability faces unprecedented challenges. How quickly the airline restores stability will determine whether confidence among travellers and markets can rebound.