India Orders IndiGo to Cut 10% of Flights Following Wave of Cancellations
India has instructed IndiGo to reduce its winter schedule by 10% after the airline canceled more than 2,000 flights last week due to pilot rostering issues, a situation that left tens of thousands of passengers stranded. The decision, announced by Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on X, raises an initial 5% cut.
The adjustment means removing at least 220 daily flights from the company’s network, based on operations prior to the new crew rest and duty time regulations that came into effect on November 1.
According to Naidu, this cut aims to “stabilize operations and reduce cancellations,” a message that set the tone after a meeting with IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers, who even canceled a presentation in London to address the crisis.
→ IndiGo Launches New Route Between Mumbai and London
Formal Notice from Regulator and Airline’s Response
IndiGo confirmed it received the official notice from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which requires a 10% reduction in the domestic winter schedule across all sectors. Last Tuesday, the regulator had requested a 5% cut and a revised plan with a deadline for the following day.
The DGCA also asked for cuts on routes where alternatives are operated by other companies, avoiding impact on destinations where IndiGo maintains exclusivity. The notice did not set an end date for this measure.
Mass Cancellations and Criticism Over Planning
Last Friday, the airline canceled more than 1,000 flights to reorganize its network. Elbers stated today that operations were already “completely stabilized.” However, the episode drew criticism for a lack of foresight regarding the new rest rules, which led to grounded aircraft and major travel disruptions.
In November, the DGCA had authorized 15,014 weekly departures for IndiGo. That month, the company recorded 951 cancellations out of a total of 64,346 approved flights.
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