Passengers wait outside the ticketing counter of Indigo airlines, as hundreds of Indigo flights are cancelled and delayed in the wake of the new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms, at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport terminal 01 in Mumbai. (Express photo by Sankhadeep Banerjee)
More than three lakh passengers connected to Mumbai flights were affected between December 1 and 8 due to IndiGo’s operational disruptions, according to data released by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA). The ministry’s figures show that 905 flights linked to Mumbai were cancelled, while 1,475 flights were delayed by more than 30 minutes, resulting in congestion across both terminals at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA).
According to MoCA, 40,789 passengers connected to Mumbai flights were affected by cancellations and 2,66,567 passengers by delays.
Airport officials said the figures reflect the scale of disruption across Mumbai. “Passengers faced long queues at airline counters, baggage belts and help desks, especially on days when cancellations spiked without prior visibility,” an airport official said.
MoCA’s day-by-day breakdown for Mumbai-linked IndiGo operations showed rising cancellations midweek. On December 1, 14 flights were cancelled and 230 delayed out of 396 scheduled. December 2 recorded 28 cancellations and 244 delays. On December 3, 65 flights were cancelled and 281 delayed. December 4 saw 128 cancellations and 245 delays, while December 5 was the worst day with 295 cancellations and 98 delays. December 6 had 153 cancellations and 211 delays, December 7 had 124 cancellations and 111 delays, and December 8 had 98 cancellations and 55 delays.
Airport officials said the rapid fluctuations created operational pressure and required constant adjustment of terminal deployment.
“Terminal teams had to keep shifting deployment almost hourly because flight information changed repeatedly. The uncertainty made queue management and baggage handling extremely challenging,” an airport official said.
MoCA identified the worst-affected domestic sectors connected to Mumbai as Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Kochi, Goa and Lucknow. International services to Amsterdam and Istanbul also faced repeated cancellations and long delays.
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The ministry noted around 780 checked-in bags were pending at CSMIA due to last-minute cancellations. IndiGo informed MoCA that 90 percent of the backlog would be cleared by Tuesday morning. Airport officials said teams were working jointly with the airline to return baggage and ensure priority handling for senior citizens, PRM passengers and families with infants. “Terminal operations, security and airline staff have been jointly tracing and returning baggage. Priority is being given to senior citizens, PRM passengers and families with infants,” an airport official said.
CSMIA also arranged inquiry-cum-booking counters of Western and Central Railway at both terminals after coordination with MoCA. Airport officials said several passengers opted for rail travel as an alternative to delayed or cancelled flights. “Several stranded passengers opted for rail travel when last-minute cancellations continued. The counters saw steady footfall through the weekend,” an airport official said.
MoCA reported that up to 25 IndiGo aircraft were grounded at Mumbai airport during peak disruption. Airport officials said temporary stand adjustments were made to accommodate the aircraft despite space limitations. Officials added that there were no law-and-order issues or serious medical emergencies. “Passengers were stressed, but cooperation levels remained high. The priority was to keep movement orderly and maintain safety,” an airport official said.
The cancellations and delays have reduced since December 8, though baggage clearance, aircraft rotation and rebooking pressures are expected to continue for several days.
Naresh S is a Trainee Correspondent with The Indian Express, based out of Mumbai. A graduate of Xavier’s Institute of Communication (XIC), he has an avid interest in civic issues and policy-related domains. At present, he reports on the transport sector, covering suburban railways, BEST bus serives and aviation with a propensity for in-depth analyses and researched-focused reportage.
Core Coverage Areas:
Naresh reports on Mumbai’s urban mobility and public systems, with a focus on transport infrastructure, commuter safety, and policy execution. His reporting is research-driven and data-backed, aimed at explaining how large public systems function or fail, for everyday commuters.
Transport (Primary Beat):
His main beat is transport, covering Mumbai’s suburban railways and BEST bus services. His reportage in this domain spans detailed coverage of events like the Mumbra train accident and its safety implications, as well as follow-up reporting on long-standing gaps such as the delayed implementation of automatic doors on Mumbai local trains. He also tracks infrastructure projects, operational disruptions, and policy decisions affecting daily commuters, often through explainer-style stories.
Aviation (Secondary Beat):
Naresh also covers aviation and airport infrastructure, including reporting on the Navi Mumbai International Airport project. His aviation coverage has included the IndiGo flight disruptions in December 2025, focusing on passenger impact, regulatory response, and systemic issues within civil aviation operations. ... Read More
