In a decisive move, the aviation regulator DGCA has ordered IndiGo to cut approximately 5 % of its daily flight schedule — affecting around 110–115 daily flights — and reassign those flights to other airlines, as part of efforts to restore stability after a wave of cancellations.
The reduction comes after IndiGo — which operates about 2,200 flights daily across domestic and international routes — failed to meet its approved capacity despite a sharp increase in its winter-schedule flight plan.
Sources said the cut will mostly impact high-demand, high-frequency routes to avoid single-flight operations on a route by IndiGo — ensuring air connectivity is maintained while distributing load among other carriers.
With the government reallocating flight slots, other airlines — including Air India, SpiceJet and Akasa Air — have been asked to step up capacity to absorb the passenger demand expected after the IndiGo cuts.
The order from the DGCA reflects deep frustration with the airline’s recent operational disruptions: although IndiGo was approved for 64,346 flights in November under the winter schedule, it operated only 59,438 — cancelling 951 flights — and could deploy far fewer aircraft than planned.
In a statement, the regulator said IndiGo “has not demonstrated an ability to operate these schedules efficiently,” prompting the reduction across multiple sectors.
The move comes amid continuing aviation disruptions triggered by the airline’s difficulties in complying with revised crew-duty norms, pilot shortage, technical issues, and increased air-traffic congestion under the winter schedule.
As other carriers ramp up flight operations to take on redistributed routes, travellers are encouraged to verify their travel plans and consider alternate airlines, especially for high-demand routes that were previously served by IndiGo.
