IndiGo Cancellations Trap EXCON Visitors Miles From Bengaluru Action

As Bengaluru prepares to host EXCON 2025, Asia’s largest construction equipment exhibition, the city is grappling with an unexpected and severe travel crisis. A nationwide disruption at IndiGo — India’s largest airline — has led to hundreds of flight cancellations, leaving passengers stranded across airports and creating a difficult start for visitors trying to reach the city during one of its busiest industry weeks.

A National Crisis Comes to Bengaluru

IndiGo’s operational chaos began unfolding in early December after new flight duty-time rules triggered major crew shortages. Over several days, the airline cancelled upwards of 1,000 flights nationwide, with Kempegowda International Airport emerging as one of the worst-hit hubs.

Local reports confirmed that up to 99 IndiGo flights were cancelled in a single day in Bengaluru — 54 arrivals and 45 departures — causing crowding, long queues, and a surge in rebooking attempts at the airport. Passengers described scenes of overflowing waiting areas, long stretches without updates, and a shortage of available alternative flights.

With EXCON scheduled between 9–13 December 2025, the timing could not be more challenging.

EXCON Week: Heavy Footfall Meets Flight Disruption

Every edition of EXCON brings a massive influx of industry professionals — from construction equipment manufacturers and technology providers to fleet operators, contractors, and dealers. While exact attendance numbers for 2025 have not yet been published, past editions have attracted over 40,000 visitors, making it one of the largest trade events in Bengaluru.

This year, many of those planning to fly into the city found their itineraries disrupted. Although no official EXCON-specific travel impact numbers have been released, the IndiGo crisis has clearly affected a substantial portion of domestic travellers, including those headed to industry events and business meetings tied to the exhibition.

The combination of limited flight availability, steep last-minute fares, and packed trains has forced several passengers to seek alternatives such as road travel or flights through nearby cities. Social media posts from Bengaluru Airport show passengers queuing for hours, searching for any possible way to reach their destination.

Bengaluru Airport Issues: A Ripple Effect on the City

As flight cancellations piled up, airport congestion increased sharply. Videos shared online captured long lines at check-in counters, communication gaps regarding delays, and passengers struggling with rebooking options on an already overburdened system.

Authorities have stated that they are monitoring the situation, but with IndiGo operating nearly 60% of India’s domestic flights, the shock to the system has been unprecedented. For a city hosting a high-profile international exhibition, this disruption has created anxiety among visitors trying to arrive on schedule for product launches, new technology showcases, and business meetings at EXCON.

Logistics and Industry Stakeholders Brace for Delays

While exhibitors and OEMs have not released formal statements linking their staff movements to the cancellations, the concern is clear. With trade shows relying heavily on precise scheduling, even a few missed arrivals can impact product demos or meeting pipelines.

Many business travellers affected by the cancellations have adopted alternative routes: booking remaining seats at premium prices, rerouting through Hyderabad, Chennai, or Coimbatore, or switching to overnight trains to ensure they reach the venue in time.

A Challenging Start to a Big Industry Week

Despite the turbulence, EXCON 2025 is expected to proceed at full scale. But the travel crisis has exposed a larger issue: India’s rising dependence on a single airline for domestic connectivity. For major events like EXCON, this raises questions about future travel planning, buffer days, and diversified route options.

Bengaluru is ready for the industry’s biggest construction equipment showcase — but for many, getting there has become the hardest part due to ongoing IndiGo flight delays and Bengaluru airport issues.