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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