DGCA Orders IndiGo to Cut Flights by 5%; Minister Promises Strict Action

PTI, NEW DELHI/MUMBAI, DEC 9, 2025 : Aviation regulator DGCA has ordered IndiGo to cut its planned flights by five per cent on high-capacity routes during winter, as it looks to bring some order to India's biggest airline, which cancelled thousands of flights nationwide after failing to plan for tighter safety regulations.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), in the December 8 order, asked IndiGo to submit a revised schedule by Wednesday. As part of the winter schedule for 2025-26, the airline has been operating over 2,200 flights per day.

The latest order is part of a suite of actions by authorities that followed IndiGo, which controls over 65 per cent of the market share, cancelling more than 4,000 flights since December 2, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded, upending their vacation plans, important meetings, and weddings.

The regulator, in the fresh notice, said that IndiGo's winter schedule shows that the airline has increased its departures by 9.66 per cent from last year, while the same relative to its summer schedule is set to rise by 6.05 per cent. "However, the airline has not demonstrated an ability to operate these schedules efficiently," the notice said.

"Therefore, it is directed to reduce the schedule by five per cent across sectors, especially on high-demand, high-frequency flights, and to avoid single-flight operations on a sector by IndiGo."

Meanwhile, in Lok Sabha, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said no airline, however large, will be permitted to cause hardship to passengers through planning failures and non-compliance with regulations. "Strict and appropriate action will be taken."

The minister said the DGCA has already issued notices to IndiGo and that the airline is being held fully accountable for the chaos caused by its internal crew-rostering failures. Naidu said IndiGo flight schedules are stabilising and all other airlines continue to operate smoothly across the country.