Pune Airport hit by major disruption as 32 IndiGo flights cancelled, one diverted

Pic/AFP

Air travel in Pune was thrown into disarray on Friday morning after 32 IndiGo flights were cancelled and one was diverted between midnight and 8 am on December 5, as ongoing operational disruptions and crew shortages continued to cripple the airline's schedule. Pune Airport confirmed that despite the heavy cancellations, all airport teams remained fully mobilised through the night to support passengers and maintain terminal operations.

According to airport data, 16 arrivals and 16 departures of IndiGo were cancelled, while a Nagpur-Pune flight was diverted to Hyderabad due to Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL). Operations of all other airlines remained unaffected and were accommodated smoothly.

Parking bays remained congested as several IndiGo aircraft continued to occupy stands while awaiting operating crew, reducing bay availability and causing cascading delays for multiple carriers.

In a statement, Pune Airport said teams from terminal management, security, apron services, ground handling, ATC, CISF, and passenger facilitation were on continuous duty. Additional manpower was deployed overnight to monitor ground operations, manage crowds, and offer real-time assistance to stranded passengers.

The airport emphasised that passenger safety, congestion control, and restoring normal operations remain its top priorities.

"Passenger welfare remains our utmost priority, and we sincerely appreciate the patience and cooperation of all travellers during this period," officials said.

The airport continues to coordinate closely with IndiGo and other stakeholders to stabilise schedules and decongest parking bays as the day progresses.