Frequent service disruptions at Vadodara airport continued this week as two IndiGo flights scheduled for Tuesday morning on the Mumbai and Delhi routes were cancelled, adding pressure to an already stretched regional aviation network. The cancellations officially attributed to “operational reasons” left several passengers seeking last-minute alternatives during a period of rising winter-schedule travel demand.
According to airport officials, the affected services included one return flight between Mumbai and Vadodara and another between Delhi and Vadodara. Passengers were offered rebooking options on later flights or full refunds as per airline policy. Those with urgent travel needs were shifted to services operating from Ahmedabad, reflecting the growing reliance on inter-city connectivity when smaller airports face operational bottlenecks.The latest cancellations follow a series of disruptions reported on 28 November involving flights to Goa, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. An official familiar with the situation said the recurring issues trace back to a technical malfunction detected on an aircraft returning from Hyderabad last week. The pilot, during taxiing, noticed an anomaly and opted to return to the bay. While ground engineers attempted on-spot repairs, the snag required intervention from a specialised team flown in from Mumbai, resulting in multiple cancellations across the aircraft’s scheduled rotations.
Aviation analysts note that such cascading disruptions are increasingly common in Tier-II cities, where airlines operate tight turnarounds due to limited fleet allocation and rising passenger volumes. “A delay or technical issue on a single aircraft often affects an entire day’s operations,” an industry expert explained, adding that smaller airports need more resilient scheduling strategies as growing urban populations increase their dependence on reliable air connectivity.The disturbances also highlight the broader challenge of ensuring equitable and sustainable mobility across fast-growing Indian cities. With Vadodara serving as an important link between western and southern corridors, inconsistent flight availability can disproportionately impact business travellers, migrant workers, and students who rely on predictable transport options. This becomes more pressing as cities pursue climate-aligned growth models that encourage multimodal systems where air travel complements rail and road networks.
Under the current winter schedule, Vadodara operates five daily flights to Delhi, three to Mumbai, and limited services to Bengaluru, Goa, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai. Any interruption therefore reduces mobility choices and heightens reliance on long-distance road travel an outcome counterproductive to India’s broader low-emission transport goals.While IndiGo has not issued a detailed technical explanation, officials emphasised that safety remains the airline’s priority. For passengers, however, repeated disruptions underscore the need for stronger operational buffers, clearer communication, and expanded city-to-city connectivity that supports inclusive and sustainable urban mobility.
Vadodara Faces Multiple IndiGo Flight Cancellations Amid Technical And Operational Issues
