Have you ever wondered how much time your employees lose because of delayed flights?
What happens when they miss an important meeting or spend hours waiting at the airport because of delays or rebookings? It affects their performance and your company’s results.
In business, every minute counts. When your employees travel, they’re not just on the move, they’re representing your brand. But delayed flights can mess up schedules, lower productivity, and impact morale.
As a business leader, you can do something about it. By understanding how delays affect your team, you can create better travel policies that save time and support your people.
In this blog, you’ll know about how often flights get delayed or canceled—and what you can do to handle it better for your team.
The Delayed and Canceled Flights in 2024
How Flight Delays and Cancellations Are Impacting Business Travel— And What You Can Do About It
If business travel is part of your company’s operations, you need to know what’s happening in the aviation space.
Here’s a clear picture of the problem backed by credible reports and how you, as a CXO, can take the lead.
1. Air Travel Is Growing—But So Are Disruptions
According to Business Today report, domestic air travel saw a 4.38% increase in passenger traffic between January–March 2024 compared to the same time in 2023.
However, delays and cancellations also surged—impacting 34% more passengers in the same period. In just the first three months of 2024, over 9.5 lakh passengers were affected.
What it means for you: Your employees are flying more, but they’re also getting delayed or stuck more often.
2. 61% of Flyers Faced Cancellations
As per a Fortune India report, LocalCircles survey shows that 61% of airline passengers in India faced flight cancellations in the past year.
The main reason? Internal airline issues, not weather or emergencies.
From Jan 2022 to Sept 2024, 25,547 flights were cancelled, impacting 10.67 lakh passengers. IndiGo alone was behind 60.53% of these cancellations (15,464 flights), making it the top contributor.
3. Operational and Technical Failures Are Common
As Financial Express reports, 427 technical faults led to 268 flight cancellations in just the first half of 2024. And it’s not just machines—crew shortages and operational mismanagement are adding to the chaos.
4. Why Flights Are Really Getting Cancelled
The DGCA’s December 2024 traffic report, covered by Hindustan Times, highlights the top causes of cancellations:
The biggest reason for cancellations is “miscellaneous”—a vague, catch-all category that signals poor planning and internal mismanagement.
Which Airlines Are Struggling Most?
The same DGCA December 2024 report shows:
- SpiceJet had the highest cancellation rate among major airlines with 1.81% of flights cancelled.
- IndiGo followed with 1.17% cancellations, which is still a big number considering its large passenger volume.
- FlyBig, a regional airline, had a massive 19.23% cancellation rate—almost 1 in every 5 flights didn’t operate.
These numbers show that both major and regional airlines are facing issues, affecting thousands of travelers.
Here’s what often happens:
- Missed meetings or events can lead to lost business or strained client relationships.
- Extra hotel stays and meals during delays or cancellations add unexpected costs to your company’s travel budget.
- Long waits and last-minute changes increase stress and make your team feel tired and frustrated.
Think about it this way: If just a few percent of flights are canceled, that still means hundreds of employees are facing delays every year.
So, delayed flights aren’t just a travel problem—they affect your business timelines, costs, and team morale.
CoTrav: A Simplified Solution for Corporate Travel
You can’t stop flight delays, but with CoTrav, you can manage them smartly. When delays or cancellations happen, we quickly provide alternate options so your team stays on track. You get real-time updates, 24/7 support, and a dedicated Relationship Manager to guide you.
With specially negotiated airline rates, you also save on every booking. All bookings, payments, and changes happen on one platform—no out-of-pocket expenses or reimbursement hassles. Plus, clear travel reports help you make smarter policy decisions.
CoTrav makes business travel smoother, more reliable, and more cost-effective—for you and your team.
Conclusion
Delayed flights aren’t just about rescheduling a ticket—they affect your team’s energy, performance, and mindset.
When you step in with the right support, you’re not just fixing a travel issue—you’re building a workplace that cares.
With CoTrav, you can make business travel smoother, more reliable, and a whole lot less stressful—for everyone.Because when your team travels with confidence, your business moves forward with strength.
