IndiGo Crisis: Railways, RTC Offer Lifeline to Stranded Fliers

• IndiGo faced a severe flight crisis since Dec 3, cancelling over 1,000 flights daily due to pilot shortages, new FDTL rules, weather, and tech issues, causing chaos at major Indian airports.
• The Ministry of Civil Aviation ordered full refunds for cancelled flights and no extra charges for rescheduling; DGCA issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo CEO and formed an operational committee.
• Despite IndiGo's claim of 95% network restoration by Dec 6, passengers reported missing luggage and incomplete information.
• Indian Railways and RTC stepped in as alternatives, with Railways running 89 special trains and adding coaches, and Telangana RTC arranging additional bus services from Hyderabad airport to various cities.
• The flight crisis is estimated to continue until February 10, 2026, highlighting concerns about competition in the aviation sector.

Why It Matters: This shows how railways and RTC provided vital support during a major airline crisis.