If you're flying IndiGo this week, the odds aren't in your favor. India's largest airline is in the midst of an unprecedented operational crisis, with hundreds of daily flight cancellations disrupting travel nationwide.

How Bad Is It?

IndiGo normally cancels less than 1% of its 2,000+ daily flights. This week? That number has skyrocketed. On the worst days, entire departure boards at Delhi Airport showed nothing but red "cancelled" notices, with all IndiGo flights grounded until midnight. Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad have faced similar chaos.

Industry insiders suggest that 10-15% of IndiGo flights are being cancelled or significantly delayed on any given day right now — meaning roughly 1 in 7 passengers could face disruption.

Why This Is Happening

The crisis stems from a perfect storm of issues:

• Severe crew shortages — pilots and cabin crew hitting regulatory duty-time limits
• Stricter flight safety rules preventing overworked crews from operating flights
• Cascade effect — one cancellation triggers a chain reaction across the network
• Winter fog season approaching, which will only worsen delays

Other Airlines Aren't Safe Either

While IndiGo is bearing the brunt, the entire Indian aviation sector is under strain. Air India, Vistara, and SpiceJet have also reported increased delays and occasional cancellations as they struggle with similar crew and scheduling pressures.

Bottom line: If you're flying any domestic airline this week, there's a meaningful risk of disruption.

When Will It Get Better?

Not soon. IndiGo has admitted operations won't normalize for several weeks. They're cutting flights from their winter schedule, but recovery is slow. With the holiday season and wedding season approaching, demand remains high while operational capacity stays constrained.

What You Should Do

• Check your flight status obsessively — 24 hours before, morning of travel, and 2 hours before departure
• Enable SMS and app alerts from your airline
• Avoid booking tight connections — give yourself at least 3-4 hours between flights
• Have a backup plan — especially for time-sensitive travel like job interviews, weddings, or medical appointments
• Consider trains or road travel for shorter routes if flexibility allows
• Book morning flights when possible — they're less likely to be affected by cascading delays

The Hard Truth

This isn't a weather event that will pass in 24 hours. India's aviation system is overextended, and the cracks are showing. Until airlines add more crew, adjust schedules, and build operational buffers, disruptions will continue.

Your flight this week? There's a real chance it won't go as planned. Travel prepared, stay flexible, and hope for the best.