IndiGo Flight reductions, as directed by th DGCA, will target high-demand routes and single-flight sectors, while freed slots will be reallocated to other airlines.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered IndiGo Airlines to reduce its flight schedule by 5 percent, cutting around 110 daily flights, after widespread disruptions left thousands of passengers stranded across the country. The move comes amid what Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu described as an “internal crisis” at the airline.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Naidu said, “We care for pilots, crew, and passengers. IndiGo was expected to manage its crew and roster efficiently, but passengers faced significant difficulties. We are not taking this lightly. Strict action will be taken, and an example will be set for all airlines. Any non-compliance will be addressed.”
IndiGo operates about 2,200 domestic and international flights daily. According to the DGCA, the airline had 15,014 departures per week under the Winter Schedule 2025, totaling 64,346 flights in November. However, operational data showed only 59,438 flights were completed, with 951 cancellations.
DGCA directs IndiGo to cut schedules by 5% and submit a revised plan by 10 December, 5 PM.
Operational challenges persist for India’s busiest airline.@tapasjournalist @DGCAIndia #Aviation #IndiGo #DGCA pic.twitter.com/7s4vJloj8C
— DD News (@DDNewslive) December 9, 2025
READ: Rules to Serve, Not Burden: PM Modi on IndiGo Chaos
The regulator noted that while the airline was allowed a 6 percent increase in its schedule compared to the previous summer, IndiGo struggled to operate all aircraft efficiently. Only 339 aircraft were in service in October and 344 in November, compared with the approved 403. As a result, the DGCA directed the airline to cut 5 percent of its flights, especially on high-demand, high-frequency routes, and to avoid single-flight operations that leave no operational buffer.
The cancellations follow the enforcement of new passenger safety norms aimed at reducing pilot fatigue, which require longer rest periods between flights. IndiGo, which traditionally prioritizes minimizing downtime, faced crew shortages under the new rules, leading to hundreds of cancellations. The DGCA temporarily relaxed some norms to help the airline cope, but ongoing inefficiencies prompted the latest directive.
The Centre has also indicated that the freed-up slots will be reallocated to other carriers, reinforcing its efforts to maintain operational stability and passenger convenience. Naidu emphasized that India’s aviation sector has the potential to support five major airlines, signaling the government’s long-term plans for market expansion.
The DGCA’s order and the minister’s warnings underscore the government’s intent to ensure passenger safety and enforce operational discipline, even as the opposition criticized the handling of the crisis and staged a walkout during the Rajya Sabha discussion.
