Indigo leaves thousands stranded, over 200 flights cancelled, fares soar: Reasons, how to request refund

Since Wednesday, Indian budget carrier Indigo has cancelled at least 200 flights, and many others were also delayed. Around 73 Indigo flights were cancelled in Bengaluru airport, more than 10 in Kolkata airport, more than 38 in Delhi, 33 in Mumbai and 19 in Hyderabad, said PTI. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said it is also investigating what led to the massive disruption and has asked Indigo to submit reasons for the development. 

Reason for the delay
On Wednesday, Indigo announced that it has initiated calibrated adjustments or flight cuts for 48 hours. "This will allow us to normalise our operations and progressively recover our punctuality across the network," they said. The airline's spokesperson also told the media that it is encountering a multitude of unforeseen operational challenges, which have caused the disruptions, including technology glitches, winter-season schedule changes, adverse weather conditions, increased congestion in the aviation system, and the implementation of updated crew rostering rules. Ever since the airline launched the second phase of Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), it has been experiencing delays and cancellations. 

In November, too, around 62% of Indigo flights were cancelled due to crew constraints. Its OTP, aka On-Time Performance, also crashed from 84.1% in October to 67.7% in November.  Both factors have also led to their fares rising by 2 or 3 times the actual price. For instance, a Rs 11,000 fare ticket on the Delhi-Bengaluru sector now costs around Rs 43,145. 

Passengers take to social media
Indigo passengers have been expressing their frustrations and concerns on social media after the delays and cancellations. While many flyers say they can understand operational reasons and delays, what worries them is how the airline hasn't been addressing their needs. Sudheer Reddy, a flyer wrote on X, "Flight 6E 511 Indore to Hyderabad was scheduled to depart at 4.15 pm on December 3. It was initially delayed and later cancelled. Our family members, most of them senior citizens, are waiting. Have been denied rescheduling and accommodation (sic.)" A handful of flyers also complained that their luggage was missing at the destination. Flyer Arun Joshi said, "No one is bothered by the missing luggage. Struggling to get information, the ground staff who assured they would confirm the luggage have switched off their number. Digital customer care number response is pathetic." 

Practical tips for flyers
1. Check flight status before heading to the airport.
2. If you see your flight is cancelled, contact the airline immediately and ask for a full refund or an alternative flight.
3. To claim a refund from Indigo, provide your PNR or transaction ID. You can also opt for a credit shell for future travel if it suits you. Visit the website to request a refund or reschedule your flight. 
'Indigo' has more than 100K search volume on Google Trends in the past 19 hours.