Amid disruptions, DGCA directs IndiGo to cut 5% of flights, about 108 daily
The regulator asked the airline to make the changes ‘on high-demand, high-frequency routes’ and to avoid single-flight operations on any sector.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Monday directed IndiGo to cut its operations by 5%, or about 108 flights a day, amid widespread disruptions, ANI reported.
The regulator asked the airline to make the cuts “especially on high-demand, high-frequency” routes and to avoid single-flight operations on any sector.
IndiGo has been directed to submit a revised schedule by 5 pm on Wednesday.
"...IndiGo has not demonstrated the ability to operate its schedules efficiently. It is directed to reduce the schedule by 5% across sectors. IndiGo is required to submit a revised schedule by 5 pm on 10th December": Office of the Director General of Civil Aviation, Govt of… pic.twitter.com/AL6BEA2Jpb
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2025
The aviation regulator noted that for the winter schedule, IndiGo had increased its departures by 9.66% compared with last year but “has not demonstrated an ability to operate these schedules effectively”.
In November, the airline had approval for 64,346 flights but operated only 59,438, cancelling 951 flights, ANI quoted the regulatory body as saying.
Air travel has been severely hit since December 2, when a shortage of pilots and crew forced IndiGo to cancel and delay hundreds of flights. The disruption also led to fares on several routes rising to unprecedented levels.
On Monday, responding to a show-cause notice, IndiGo said it was “profusely apologetic” for the disruptions, PTI reported.
“The disruption had resulted from a combination of the factors, including minor technical glitches, schedule changes linked to the start of the winter season, adverse weather conditions, increased congestion in the aviation system, as well as implementation of and operation under the updated crew rostering rules, which coincided in lesser or greater measure,” the airline told the DGCA.
On Tuesday, the airline cancelled more than 400 flights across airports in the country, Hindustan Times reported.
The disruptions came amid the rollout of stricter work hour norms introduced in November. The revised rostering norms, issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in January 2024 after concerns about pilot fatigue, were meant to take effect on June 1.
However, airlines asked for delayed implementation because of staffing shortages and operational challenges, and the key changes were eventually introduced on November 1.
The new rules required longer weekly rest, restricted night landings, extended the definition of night hours and limited consecutive night duties.
IndiGo used to operate more than 2,000 flights daily and holds about 60% of India’s domestic civil aviation market.
