IndiGo Restores Full Network Operations After December Disruptions, Board Orders Independent Review

Operational Recovery, Customer Support and Governance Response

IndiGo faced significant operational disruption between December 3 and December 5, 2025, resulting in widespread flight cancellations, stranded passengers and delayed baggage across its network. The disruption affected thousands of customers, many of whom missed personal, medical and business commitments, while baggage delays added to passenger distress.

Addressing the developments on December 10, 2026, Vikram Singh Mehta, Chairman of the Board of Directors of InterGlobe Aviation Limited, acknowledged the impact on passengers and issued an unconditional apology, stating, “We did not meet your expectations during those days. And for that, we are truly sorry.” Mehta explained that the Board had chosen to prioritise restoring operations and supporting affected customers before issuing a statement.

Following stabilisation efforts led by the management team, IndiGo confirmed that operations had returned to normal levels. The airline resumed over 1,900 daily flights, reconnecting all 138 destinations in its network, with on-time performance restored to its standard levels. Mehta noted that while criticism was expected, the airline owed clarity to customers, regulators, shareholders and employees.

Addressing speculation around the disruption, Mehta categorically rejected allegations that the airline engineered the crisis, influenced government rules, compromised safety or that the Board was disengaged. He stated that IndiGo complied fully with pilot fatigue regulations as implemented and maintained its safety record. According to the airline, the disruption was caused by a convergence of internal and external factors, including minor technical issues, winter schedule changes, adverse weather, system congestion and the implementation of revised crew rostering rules.

The Board confirmed that it had been actively engaged throughout the period, convening emergency meetings, forming a crisis management group and maintaining daily oversight until stability was restored. Mehta added that the airline would examine the disruption thoroughly and ensure corrective action to prevent recurrence.

Operational updates issued between December 11 and December 15, 2025, showed consistent improvement. IndiGo restored connectivity across all destinations by December 8, stabilised operations by December 9 and eliminated same-day cancellations, barring minimal disruptions due to weather or technical reasons. By December 12, the airline operated over 2,000 flights daily, serving more than 300,000 customers, with on-time performance remaining within established standards.

To address passenger inconvenience, IndiGo confirmed that refunds for cancelled flights had been initiated, with most already credited. Customers booked through third-party platforms were advised to contact the airline for assistance. Severely impacted passengers from December 3 to December 5 were offered travel vouchers worth INR 10,000, valid for 12 months, in addition to compensation of INR 5,000 to INR 10,000 under existing government guidelines, depending on flight block time.

As part of its governance response, the Board approved the appointment of Chief Aviation Advisors LLC, led by Captain John Illson, to conduct an independent root cause analysis of the disruption. The review, recommended by the Crisis Management Group, will assess contributing factors and opportunities for improvement, with findings to be submitted directly to the Board.

Operational momentum continued through mid-December, with IndiGo operating over 2,050 flights daily and minimal cancellations. The airline urged customers to rely only on official updates and confirmed that airport partners had been instructed to display revised schedules clearly to avoid confusion.

On December 15, dense fog across northern India led to delays and selective cancellations at Delhi and other airports. IndiGo stated that safety remained the priority, with proactive passenger communication and real-time updates provided through official channels.

Concluding his statement, Mehta acknowledged that the disruption marked a blemish on IndiGo’s record and emphasised that rebuilding trust would depend on sustained action rather than words. He stated that the airline would continue serving customers with a renewed focus on safety, reliability and accountability.

Also read: IndiGo Issues Clarification After December 5 Flight Cancellations, Service Normalisation Restored