Mangaluru: Flight disruptions continued for Indigo across the country on Saturday, December 6, resulting in significant operational challenges at the Mangaluru International Airport. The prolonged irregularities affected passengers throughout the day, with cancellations, delays, and uncertainty dominating the airport’s otherwise routine weekend traffic.
A total of six flights were cancelled from the airport — three departures and three arrivals — while several others experienced substantial delays. The disruptions, which have persisted nationwide for the last four days, led to congestion at helpdesks and airline counters as anxious passengers sought clarity on their travel plans.
Growing concern among passengers
With news of nationwide disruptions circulating for days, many passengers arrived at the airport much earlier than their scheduled departure times, hoping to secure timely updates or alternative arrangements. Airport staff were seen repeatedly advising fliers that flight confirmations could only be provided on the day of travel, as the situation remained fluid and dependent on last-minute operational clearances.
Passengers of other airlines were also impacted indirectly. Owing to the uncertainty around Indigo’s schedule, people queued up at various airline counters seeking clarification or exploring the possibility of last-minute bookings on unaffected carriers. However, high fares and limited availability during the peak travel period meant that alternative options were often unaffordable or impractical.
One passenger, a woman who had travelled to Mangaluru to attend a wedding, shared her ordeal. She arrived at the airport at 5.30 pm for her 9.25 pm flight to Mumbai, only to be informed that the departure had been pushed to 11 pm. “I came early to see if alternative arrangements are possible, but the other airlines are very expensive. I’m also checking if I can wait in the lounge. I’ll try whatever is possible,” she said, reflecting the uncertainty experienced by many.
Impact on airport operations
The cascading delays required airport authorities and airline staff to remain on high alert throughout the day. Flight information display boards were frequently updated, and announcements were made at short intervals to keep travellers informed. Even so, the unpredictability of operations left many passengers frustrated.
Airport officials indicated that the disruptions were part of a widespread issue affecting Indigo’s network nationwide. While specific reasons were not immediately shared with passengers, the irregularities appeared to stem from operational constraints that accumulated over several days, eventually resulting in cancellations across multiple sectors.
Despite the challenges, ground staff said they were monitoring each flight closely and coordinating with the airline’s operations team to ensure timely updates. Passengers were urged to maintain communication through official channels such as the airline’s app and customer service number.
Cancellations expected to continue
The concerns extended into Sunday as well, with airport authorities confirming the cancellation of two Indigo flights scheduled for December 7. These include the Mangaluru–Bengaluru flight (6E256) and the Mumbai–Mangaluru–Mumbai service (6E148/5150). Passengers booked on these routes were advised to check for rebooking options or refunds through Indigo’s official support systems.
The ongoing situation has raised questions about service reliability during peak travel days, especially with the holiday season approaching. Frequent travellers expressed concerns that prolonged disruptions could lead to a domino effect across multiple routes, affecting thousands of passengers nationwide.
Conclusion
As Indigo works to stabilise its operations, passengers are advised to remain proactive by monitoring their flight status regularly and arriving well in advance to accommodate sudden schedule changes. Although Saturday’s disruptions caused inconvenience to many, airport authorities said they hoped operations would normalise soon. Until then, travellers using Indigo services may need to prepare for unexpected delays.