Post by : Rameen Ariff

IndiGo has faced unprecedented flight disruptions across India this week, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and creating unexpected challenges for travelers. Among those affected was a newlywed couple from Bhubaneswar and Hubballi, who had to attend their own wedding reception online after their flights were cancelled.

Medha Kshirsagar from Hubballi and Sangama Das from Bhubaneswar, both software engineers working in Bengaluru, had tied the knot on November 23 in Bhubaneswar. Their reception was scheduled at Gujarat Bhavan in Hubballi on December 3. However, due to widespread flight cancellations caused by ongoing pilot shortages, the couple could not reach Hubballi on time.

Despite booking tickets from Bhubaneswar to Bengaluru and onwards to Hubballi, their journey was delayed multiple times, starting from 9 AM on December 2, and eventually, their flight was cancelled on December 3. Relatives traveling via Bhubaneswar-Mumbai-Hubballi faced similar cancellations.

With guests already assembled and preparations in place, the bride’s parents stepped in to occupy the couple’s seats and carry out the rituals. Medha and Sangama, fully dressed for the occasion in Bhubaneswar, joined the reception through video conferencing, ensuring their presence was felt despite the physical absence. The bride’s mother shared, “The wedding was planned for December 3, but at 4 AM, the flight was cancelled. We could not cancel the event at the last minute, so we decided to have them attend virtually.”

IndiGo, India’s largest airline, has cancelled hundreds of flights this week due to its inability to adjust roster planning in line with new government Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms. The airline operates around 2,200 flights daily and confirmed that more than 500 flights were cancelled on Thursday alone, marking the largest single-day disruption in its 20-year history.

Airports in Delhi, Jaipur, Bhopal, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and other cities were significantly affected. IndiGo has informed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that it expects flight operations to fully stabilise by February 10, 2026, while requesting temporary relaxations on flight duty norms. The airline also warned that cancellations will continue until December 8, with a reduction in services expected from that day onward.

Passengers across India continue to face inconvenience, with the ongoing disruptions highlighting gaps in planning and the challenges of implementing new regulatory norms. IndiGo has acknowledged the misjudgment in implementing the second phase of FDTL rules, emphasizing that the disruptions are temporary and operations will normalise in the coming months.

#Global News #Travel