The operational crisis of IndiGo deepened on Saturday as the airline cancelled 405 domestic flights, marking the fifth consecutive day of widespread disruption.
Airports across the country witnessed scenes of chaos as stranded passengers expressed frustration over long delays and mass cancellations.
The airline, which operates around 2,300 flights daily with a fleet of more than 400 aircraft, has been grappling with severe punctuality issues.
Officials linked the crisis to an unexpected shortage of pilots arising from planning lapses, with disruptions expected to continue for several more days.
With flight cancellations triggering a surge in passenger demand, Indian Railways intervened to ease travel pressure, deploying 116 additional coaches across 37 premium trains, spanning 114 augmented trips nationwide.
According to a press release, Southern Railway undertook the largest expansion, adding extra capacity to 18 trains through Chair Car and Sleeper Class coaches. These enhancements, effective from 6 December, significantly boost accommodation on busy southern routes.
The ministry added that Northern Railway increased capacity on eight trains, incorporating 3AC and Chair Car coaches to manage heavy footfall across major northern corridors.
Railways Address Rising Demand Across Regions
Further measures included Western Railway, which strengthened four high-demand trains by adding 3AC and 2AC coaches from December 6 to support travel between western states and the national capital.
Officials confirmed that East Central Railway enhanced the Rajendra Nagar–New Delhi service (12309) by adding 2AC coaches over five trips scheduled between 6 and 10 December, improving connectivity along the crucial Bihar–Delhi sector.
Similarly, the East Coast Railway boosted the Bhubaneswar–New Delhi routes (20817/20811/20823) by adding two additional 2AC coaches over five trips, ensuring smoother long-distance travel between Odisha and Delhi.
Indian Railway Board Executive Director (Information and Publicity) Dilip Kumar stated that additional coaches and special services were planned to manage the sharp increase in passenger volumes. Four special trains were announced to assist affected travellers.
The Gorakhpur–Anand Vihar Terminal–Gorakhpur Special (05591/05592) will operate four trips between 7 and 9 December. The New Delhi–Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan–New Delhi Vande Bharat Special (02439/02440) will run on 6 December, providing swift connectivity to Jammu.
To meet western-sector demand, the New Delhi–Mumbai Central–New Delhi Superfast Special (04002/04001) will operate on 6 and 7 December.
Additionally, the Hazrat Nizamuddin–Thiruvananthapuram Central Superfast Special (04080) will run one way on 6 December, offering long-distance relief to southbound travellers.
As IndiGo’s crisis persists, Indian Railways continues to play a crucial role in absorbing the surge and keeping national travel routes functional.
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