India’s bustling wedding industry, valued at approximately $130 billion annually, has encountered unprecedented disruption as IndiGo Airlines’ operational crisis continues into its peak season. The country’s largest carrier, commanding over 60% of the domestic aviation market, has canceled more than 1,000 flights this week alone, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and creating particularly severe consequences for wedding celebrations.
The scale of disruption became starkly evident when one newlywed couple was compelled to attend their own reception virtually after their IndiGo flight was canceled. Appearing via video conference on a large screen at the wedding venue, the couple apologized to dozens of guests who had gathered for the celebration while their designated seating area remained conspicuously empty. The bride’s mother explained to NDTV that canceling the event at the last minute was impossible given the number of invited relatives, leading to the unconventional digital solution.
Even diplomatic personnel were affected by the chaos. Singapore’s High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong, expressed his frustration on social media after his canceled flight prevented him from attending a staff member’s wedding in the remote eastern town of Deoghar. Wong described himself as ‘lost for words’ regarding the situation.
The crisis has forced families to make extraordinary arrangements. One group booked an expensive charter flight after 80 members of the groom’s family, including the groom himself, found themselves stranded at Bengaluru airport unable to reach the wedding destination in Puri. Another family postponed their Goa wedding celebrations to January despite the bride and groom having already reached the destination, as most family members couldn’t fly together from Delhi as planned.
IndiGo has acknowledged that the mass cancellations resulted from inadequate preparation for new pilot duty-hour regulations implemented by aviation authorities. The Indian government has announced an investigation into the disruptions that have exposed the vulnerability of the country’s rapidly growing air travel infrastructure. Domestic passenger traffic has more than doubled from 83 million in 2014 to 174 million in 2024, according to International Air Transport Association data.
While the airline has apologized to affected customers, the emotional and financial toll on families remains significant. One frustrated relative described the situation on social media as ‘a tragedy, made entirely by a single corporation’ that had spoiled her brother’s wedding celebrations.