IndiGo’s operational crisis stretches into the eighth day with 180 more cancellations in Bengaluru and Hyderabad as the government prepares to trim its winter slots.

India’s largest airline, IndiGo, continued to reel under operational turmoil on Tuesday, scrapping nearly 180 flights across Bengaluru and Hyderabad, according to airport sources. The cancellations 121 in Bengaluru and 58 linked to Hyderabad extend the disruptions into an unprecedented eighth straight day.

The ongoing chaos comes on the heels of more than 560 flights grounded on Monday across major metro hubs, intensifying pressure on a carrier that handles over 65% of India’s domestic air traffic.

In a significant development, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu confirmed that IndiGo’s winter schedule slots will be reduced as a penalty. Those curtailed routes, he said, will be temporarily reassigned to rival airlines until IndiGo proves it can meet operational demands again.

IndiGo, which normally operates 2,200+ daily flights, now faces not only service disruptions but also a potential shake-up in market dominance if competitors gain ground during this period

Analysis: The cascading cancellations are beginning to affect peak-season travel budgets for thousands of passengers, especially those connecting through South India’s two busiest tech hubs. If the disruption persists, travel agents predict fare surges on competing airlines. Passengers are advised to reconfirm bookings on the day of travel, as schedules remain volatile.