IndiGo faced massive operational trouble in November and December. Over 900 flights were cancelled in November alone. The disruption continued with 1,600 cancellations on December 6 and 850 more on December 7. Passengers said they had never seen airline failures on such a scale. Many questioned the regulatory oversight and demanded accountability.

The crisis emerged at a time when railway services already disappointed citizens. Frequent delays, poor hygiene and the Balasore train tragedy eroded trust in rail travel. Disappointed middle-class travellers shifted to airlines for safer and faster journeys. This shift helped IndiGo expand and capture nearly 60% of India’s aviation market.

Issues grew further as pilots faced extended duty hours without proper rest. Airlines accepted bookings despite capacity limits and failed to inform passengers early about cancellations. Critics argued that privatisation alone cannot improve public services. The IndiGo crisis reminded the public that strong regulation and pro-people policies remain essential for stable transport systems.

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Mohammad Hasnain Ali, who works in Saudi Arabia, said he had no updates about his Patna–Delhi flight. He travelled from Siwan in fear because his visa was about to expire. If he missed the flight, he could lose his job. Many passengers faced similar stress.

The airline began the refund process for flights cancelled between December 5 and 15. Officials assured that refunds would be completed soon.

Passengers complained that the counter staff gave wrong or incomplete information. Sarfaraz Alam booked a Dubai-bound ticket but received incorrect details about his timing. Another passenger, Mohammad Mushtaq, said he was told different things about his Lucknow flight.

Airport Director CP Dwivedi said extra steps were taken to support passengers. A special control room, additional staff, and more chairs were arranged. Food, water, and washroom maintenance teams worked through the day.

Patna Airport also shared updates through its official X handle and a 24/7 helpline.

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Domestic ticket prices have jumped to shocking levels. The Patna–New Delhi fare even became higher than the Delhi–London fare. On Sunday, the Patna–Delhi fare on SpiceJet touched ₹41,380, while the Delhi–London fare on Air India was only ₹26,351. By Friday, the Patna–Delhi fare crossed ₹30,000.

Cancellations pushed passengers toward other airlines. Fares on Air India and SpiceJet became four to five times higher than usual. Tickets from Darbhanga to Delhi and Mumbai touched between ₹37,000 and ₹44,000. Routes like Patna–Mumbai, Patna–Bengaluru, and Patna–Chennai also saw huge jumps, with some fares crossing ₹50,000.

DGCA later withdrew its order on weekly holidays after airlines reported severe disruptions. In four days, cancellations crossed 1,900 flights nationwide.

Bihar faced 22 cancellations on Friday alone. Patna airport had the maximum impact with 12 cancelled flights. Long queues formed at the IndiGo counter as passengers demanded new tickets and fresh travel dates. Many expressed anger over the chaos.

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The Hayli Gubbi volcano, located in Ethiopia’s Afar region almost 800 km northeast of Addis Ababa, erupted for several hours on November 23, 2025. Ash shot high into the atmosphere and drifted westward toward the Arabian Sea before shifting in the direction of India. Experts warned that the Ethiopia Volcano Ash Cloud Threatens India due to its reach and density.

The DGCA issued strong advisories for airlines. Officials told pilots to avoid affected altitudes because volcanic ash contains abrasive, glass-like particles. These particles can melt inside engines, form a hard coating, and damage turbine blades. Aviation teams remain alert to protect passengers and aircraft from risk.

Meteorologists continue to track the ash movement. They expect the cloud to thin out soon, giving relief to pilots and travellers. Authorities will update guidelines as the situation evolves.

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Recent GPS signal disruptions were observed around Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, which manages over 1,500 flights daily. The DGCA’s latest directive asks airlines and pilots to record the date, time, route, and coordinates of affected areas.

They must also specify the type of interference such as jamming, spoofing, or signal loss. Evidence like screenshots, flight logs, or system data can help investigators analyze the problem more effectively.

Between November 2023 and February 2025, about 465 interference cases were reported, mostly near Amritsar and Jammu. Similar incidents were also seen in conflict zones abroad. The DGCA is working with international aviation bodies like ICAO and IATA to strengthen protection against GNSS disruptions.

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The minister was accompanied by senior officials, including MoCA Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha and AAI Chairman Vipin Kumar. He directed ECIL CMD to deploy more engineers for quick restoration. Naidu also ordered additional ATC staff to handle manual operations and minimize passenger inconvenience during the downtime.

Teams from AAI, Air Navigation Services, and ECIL worked around the clock to identify and fix the fault. By the afternoon of November 8, engineers fully restored the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS). As a result, all flights resumed without further cancellations. The ministry said safety and passenger convenience remained top priorities throughout the process.

Later, Naidu visited the ATC Tower to inspect routine operations and praised the teams for their commitment. He instructed officials to conduct a root-cause analysis and plan technological upgrades, including backup servers, to prevent similar disruptions in the future.

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Through this partnership, AIONOS will deploy its Agentic AI platform, IntelliMate, enabling real-time, multilingual interactions via voice, chat, web, and mobile. The virtual concierge will assist travellers with flight updates, baggage tracking, gate details, and airport services in multiple languages, including English, Hindi, and regional dialects.

The initiative is part of AAHL’s digital transformation strategy to improve convenience and personalisation. The company’s vision focuses on collaboration within the airport ecosystem, superior passenger experience, and building robust digital infrastructure for future-ready airports.

AAHL CEO Arun Bansal said the company is redefining the airport journey through “intelligent, digital-first innovations.” AIONOS Co-founder CP Gurnani added that this partnership showcases their shared vision of using AI to elevate customer experience and strengthen India’s aviation technology landscape.

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The airport’s first phase includes a single runway and passenger terminal, handling up to 12 million passengers annually. Technical installations, finishing works, and cleaning are ongoing. Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) exercises are also in progress to ensure smooth functioning.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will issue the aerodrome licence after readiness checks are completed. The runway is CAT-III compliant, allowing flights in low-visibility conditions like winter fog. IndiGo has been confirmed as the launch carrier, while Akasa Air will operate domestic and international flights.

Originally scheduled for September 2024, the project faced delays due to the pandemic. Once fully completed by 2050, Jewar airport will have six runways, becoming India’s largest aviation hub. The airport is expected to boost trade, tourism, and investment in Uttar Pradesh while enhancing passenger and cargo movement across the region.

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The airport will open on October 30, but flight operations will begin within 45 days, pending approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has granted airside security clearance, allowing the next steps for the aerodrome license.

The new airport will focus on cargo operations, unlike IGIA. It will feature CAT-III infrastructure to handle North India’s foggy conditions, ensuring safe landings in low visibility. In its first phase, NIA will handle 1.2 crore passengers annually, along with dedicated cargo facilities.

The airport will expand to 3 crore passengers annually and add a second runway. In the long term, NIA aims to handle 7 crore passengers each year.

This public-private partnership project faced delays, but the airport is expected to boost regional development, create jobs, and promote trade in Western UP.

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