A big problem is happening with IndiGo — one of India’s largest airlines — and as a result, thousands of flights have been cancelled, leaving many travellers stuck and confused. Al Jazeera
Right from early December 2025, reports have shown that between 2,000 and 4,000 flights operated by IndiGo were cancelled. Al Jazeera People travelling for holidays, family visits or school trips found themselves waiting in airports, unable to fly when they planned.
The reason behind this big disruption is said to be a shortage of pilots and crew. Airlines need enough team members — pilots, cabin crew, ground staff — to run flights. Because of fewer available crew, many flights across major cities like Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai had to be called off or delayed. Al Jazeera
Travel and holiday time has become difficult for kids and families, especially during school vacations. Several parents and children were caught off-guard when their holiday plans suddenly changed — some had to cancel trips, miss family meetups or postpone journeys to other cities.
Airports quickly became crowded as many stranded travellers waited for updates. Long queues, stress, and confusion grew as people tried to find alternate flights or decide whether to wait or cancel. Some airports reportedly had hundreds of people stuck with their luggage for hours. Al Jazeera+1
Officials and the airline said they are working to fix the problem — trying to call back standby crew, hire more staff and reschedule flights. But they also warned that normal flight schedules might take a few days to return. Al Jazeera
For families — especially kids — this is a strong reminder about how travel plans sometimes get tricky. If you or your parents plan a flight, it’s good to check carefully: make sure tickets are confirmed, be ready for delays, and always keep a backup plan.
This mess with flights also shows something bigger: that whenever many people travel at once — during holidays, school breaks or festivals — it’s smart to give yourself extra time instead of planning everything at the last minute.
If you are curious about how flights, airlines and travel work — and why sometimes things go wrong — you might enjoy checking out our School & Learning corner or World & Travel section for simple guides and stories.
In short: Because of staff problems, IndiGo cancelled a large number of flights across India — affecting thousands of passengers and upsetting many travel plans.
Learning takeaway: When travelling, always have backup plans — tickets, luggage, and travel dates can change, so it’s good to stay prepared.
