TL;DR

Six IndiGo flights scheduled from Coimbatore International Airport were cancelled due to operational challenges and aircraft rotation issues. The sudden cancellation created major inconvenience for passengers traveling to Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. Authorities have advised passengers to check flight status in advance and arrive early for rebooking assistance.

Introduction

Coimbatore witnessed another major travel disruption this week as six IndiGo flights were cancelled at Coimbatore International Airport, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and frustrated. The cancellations triggered long queues at the airline counters, confusion among travelers, and a significant delay in rescheduling for many who were depending on these flights for business, medical travel, and personal commitments.

This large-scale cancellation has raised concerns among frequent flyers, especially since Coimbatore is one of the busiest airports in South India, catering to lakhs of passengers every month. The sudden halt in services has once again highlighted the challenges faced by airlines during peak travel periods.

In this detailed report, we look at why the cancellations happened, which flights were affected, the response from IndiGo, and what passengers should do next.

What Happened at Coimbatore Airport?

According to onsite airport sources, six IndiGo flights scheduled throughout the early morning and afternoon hours were cancelled due to “operational reasons.” While IndiGo did not initially release a detailed public statement, internal updates point towards the following issues:

• Aircraft rotation delays
• Crew unavailability due to duty time restrictions
• Technical inspections
• Congestion at connecting airports

These factors combined delayed the preceding flights, leading to a cascading effect on Coimbatore departures.

Airlines often face such operational challenges, but the lack of early communication resulted in many passengers arriving at the airport unaware of the cancellations until check-in.

List of Cancelled IndiGo Flights (Dec 2025)

(Based on airport sources and ground updates)

The affected routes include:

• Coimbatore → Chennai
• Coimbatore → Bengaluru
• Coimbatore → Hyderabad
• Coimbatore → Mumbai
• Coimbatore → Delhi (one scheduled rotation)
• Coimbatore → Pune

Passengers reported receiving messages only a few hours before departure – or in some cases, only upon reaching the airport.

Why Were These Flights Cancelled? – A Closer Look

The term “operational reasons” is often used in airline communication, but what exactly does it mean in this case? Aviation experts offer several explanations:

1. Crew Duty Restrictions

Airline crew members must follow aviation safety laws that limit working hours. If a crew reaches their maximum allowed hours, they cannot operate the next flight.

When earlier flights get delayed, it directly affects crew scheduling, causing cancellation of later flights.

2. Aircraft Technical Checks

Aircraft must undergo routine safety inspections. If an issue is detected, even a minor one, the aircraft is grounded until resolved.

IndiGo, being a low-cost carrier with tight turnaround times, is particularly affected when aircraft go out of service.

3. Weather in Other Cities

Weather disruptions in major hubs like Delhi, Bengaluru, or Mumbai can cause severe delays nationwide. Even though Coimbatore skies remained clear, connecting flights arriving late resulted in cancellations.

4. High Passenger Traffic

The December – January season sees heightened travel demand. Extra load makes it harder for airlines to manage operations smoothly.

Passenger Experience: Long Queues & Frustration

Many passengers shared their experiences on social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter)
Several pointed out that customer support lines were busy and airport counters were understaffed considering the number of stranded travelers.

Some passengers with emergency travel plans—such as medical appointments and job-related commitments – faced greater distress.

How IndiGo Responded

IndiGo staff at Coimbatore airport provided a few solutions:

• Rebooking passengers on the next available flights
• Offering full refunds
• Arranging alternative connections through nearby airports
• Advising passengers to check the IndiGo Flight Status Portal before arrival

External sources like FlightAware and Flightradar24 also confirm irregular movement for these scheduled flights.

What Passengers Should Do If Their Flight Is Cancelled

Here are some practical steps for travellers:

✔ Check your SMS / App Notification

Airlines typically send cancellation alerts through their app or SMS.

✔ Visit the IndiGo Help Desk

Walk-in counters can help with rebooking or refunds.

✔ Check live airport updates

• https://www.aai.aero

✔ Keep buffer time for important travel

Avoid scheduling urgent commitments too close to planned flight timings, especially during peak season.

✔ Use alternative airports

Nearby airports include:

• Coimbatore
• Tiruppur
• Madurai
• Bengaluru (for major connections)

Coimbatore Airport – Growing Traffic, Growing Challenges

Coimbatore International Airport has been handling a rapidly increasing volume of passengers in recent years. According to industry data, the airport saw a sharp rise in domestic and international traffic in 2024 – 2025.

The growth is largely due to:

• Expanding IT & textile industries
• Rising outbound tourism
• Increased migrant worker travel
• Aviation recovery after global disruptions

However, the infrastructure and staffing still struggle during peak periods.

For more Coimbatore updates, ongoing developments, and daily local news, readers can follow: Coimbatore News from Todays Coimbatore

Impact on Coimbatore’s Travellers

The disruptions highlight the growing dependency on air travel in Coimbatore. With thousands of daily flyers, even a few cancellations cause ripples across business operations, tourism, and personal travel plans.

Many passengers – especially senior citizens, students, and families – shared concerns about lack of proper communication. This incident is expected to push airports and airlines to improve their response systems.

Expected Recovery Timeline

Aviation analysts believe that operations are likely to normalize within 12 – 24 hours, provided there are no further disruptions at linking airports.

The airline is expected to restore its full schedule by the next day as crews rotate and aircraft get repositioned.

Final Thoughts

Flight cancellations are never pleasant, especially when they happen unexpectedly. The Coimbatore – IndiGo incident is a reminder of how interconnected air travel systems are, where delays in one region often create a domino effect across the country.

As Coimbatore continues to grow economically and demographically, the need for better airport infrastructure, predictable airline operations, and timely passenger communication becomes increasingly important.

For now, passengers are advised to stay updated, check flight status frequently, and plan ahead during peak travel periods.