IndiGo has long been celebrated as one of the most remarkable success stories in global aviation, fundamentally transforming how millions of people travel across the India. Since its inception in 2006, the low-cost carrier built an enviable reputation based on three core pillars including discipline, punctuality, and a relentless focus on cost-effectiveness. By late 2025, IndiGo had expanded its reach to 140 destinations, including 44 international locations, and operated an enormous fleet of over 430 aircraft. For years, it remained the gold standard for no-frills reliability, maintaining a remarkably low flight cancellation rate of just 0.5 per cent. This efficiency allowed it to dominate the market, eventually controlling nearly 64 per cent of India's domestic air traffic and welcoming over 118 million passengers annually. Travellers frequently lauded the airline for its clean and lean machine-like performance, which made air travel accessible to a burgeoning middle class.
Operational meltdown shaking the system
However, this triumphant narrative was abruptly shattered in early December 2025 when the airline spiralled into an unprecedented operational meltdown. The crisis peaked on December 5, when IndiGo was forced to cancel a record 1,600 flights in a single day, including every departure from Delhi, the nation's busiest airport. This massive disruption occurred during the height of the wedding and peak holiday season, leaving tens of thousands of travellers stranded. The primary cause was a severe shortage of crew, as management failed to prepare for new pilot resting regulations that increased mandatory weekly breaks from 36 to 48 hours.
In India, an airline’s failure shouldn't trigger a national crisis, yet IndiGo’s 66% market share makes this a reality. Dominating 60% of 1,000 routes, its collapse halts Indian aviation. High fuel taxes, monopolistic airports, and rigid bankruptcy laws stifle competition, unlike America’s balanced market where rivals easily absorb operational shocks.
The situation was further aggravated by technical glitches and seasonal winter fog in New Delhi. On-time performance, which typically stood above 90 per cent, plummeted to a dismal 67 per cent in November. Although the Airlines have announced compensation, the lingering problem of aviation still remains. The major problem is although said to be on the air transportation of India, that compared to rail and other transportations has a higher tax on fuel swallow profits. Although the government tried to improve the infrastructure of airports, but now its evident that the problem won’t go away with five star airports and flashy infrastructure.