India’s largest airline, IndiGo, continued to face severe operational disruptions on Saturday, marking the fifth consecutive day of widespread flight cancellations across the country. The impact was felt at several major airports. At Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, six domestic flights were cancelled through the day. Ahmedabad Airport also reported a significant hit to operations, with seven arrivals and 12 departures cancelled between midnight and 6 am on December 6.
The disruptions, which began earlier in the week, have been linked to failures in pilot rostering. Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu said the government will take strict action once the inquiry into the lapses is completed. He added that the priority is to stabilise operations and minimise inconvenience to passengers who have been stranded or forced to alter travel plans at short notice.
As passenger complaints grew, the civil aviation ministry issued fresh directives to IndiGo on Saturday. The airline has been ordered to complete all pending ticket refunds for cancelled flights by Sunday evening. The ministry also instructed the carrier to ensure that baggage separated from passengers during the disruptions is delivered within the next two days. Authorities said they will monitor compliance closely.
In a post on X, IndiGo said refunds for cancelled flights will be processed automatically to the original mode of payment. The airline also announced a full waiver on cancellation or rescheduling charges for all bookings made between 5 December and 15 December 2025. The measure aims to give customers flexibility as the airline works to restore normal flight schedules.
IndiGo has not yet provided a clear timeline for full operational recovery. However, the carrier said teams are working to stabilise crew rosters and streamline flight operations. The ongoing crisis has affected thousands of travellers nationwide, prompting calls for stronger oversight of airline staffing and scheduling practices.