IndiGo, India’s largest airline, is gradually recovering after a turbulent spell of mass flight disruptions. The carrier has already processed refunds worth Rs 610 crore for affected passengers, and its on-time performance has rebounded to about 75%. With operations now restored across nearly all its routes, the airline’s recovery brings some relief to travellers who faced widespread cancellations and delays throughout the past week.

The trouble began when a combination of crew shortages and technical glitches triggered an unprecedented wave of disruptions. On certain days, more than 1,000 flights were cancelled, overwhelming major airports such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Passengers were left dealing with long waits, missed connections, and misplaced baggage, which led to public outrage and intervention from the Civil Aviation Ministry. Normally, IndiGo operates around 2,300 flights a day, so the sudden drop to roughly 700 created a major domino effect across the aviation sector, even causing airfares on other airlines to spike until regulators stepped in.

Now, IndiGo has stabilised daily operations to more than 1,650 flights and has resumed service to 137 of its 138 destinations. The airline has removed all cancellation and rescheduling charges for bookings through December 15, 2025, and has already returned more than 3,000 lost bags. CEO Pieter Elbers told staff that the airline is regaining stability “step by step,” with full normalcy expected by December 10.

For many travellers—like a family rushing to attend a wedding in Mumbai—the chaos meant missed plans and refund struggles. This time, however, IndiGo’s quick response and large-scale refunds have set a better example than earlier disruptions caused by fog or weather, potentially pushing other carriers to improve their service standards.

While operations are largely back to normal, Delhi Airport has cautioned that a few IndiGo issues may still appear today. Passengers are encouraged to monitor flight updates and book flexibly during busy seasons. Overall, the crisis shows that even the biggest players can stumble, but IndiGo’s swift Rs 610-crore refund drive signals growing accountability in India’s fast-expanding aviation industry.