Government Tells IndiGo to Cut 200 Daily Flights After Week of Chaos.
The Centre has directed IndiGo to reduce its daily flight schedule by nearly 10%, a move that will cut more than 200 flights a day, after the airline’s massive operational disruptions left thousands of passengers stranded across the country over the past week.
The decision came after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reviewed IndiGo’s continuing delays and cancellations, which began rising sharply after the airline struggled to manage pilot rosters under the new rest-and-duty rules. According to DGCA officials, the airline cancelled thousands of flights in just a few days, causing long queues, missing baggage, and widespread chaos at airports such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
IndiGo normally operates around 2,200 flights a day, making it India’s largest airline. Cutting 10% of its schedule amounts to grounding more than 200 daily flights, a step the government said was necessary to bring “stability and predictability” back to the aviation network.
The airline has also been asked to submit a revised operational plan and ensure quicker passenger refunds. The Civil Aviation Ministry has warned IndiGo to avoid over-scheduling flights when adequate staff or rested pilots are not available — a key factor behind the disruptions.
The government has additionally stepped in to prevent fare spikes after reports showed other airlines raising prices on busy routes. Temporary fare caps have been introduced on several sectors to protect passengers from what officials called “opportunistic pricing” during the crisis.
Industry experts say the situation highlights how heavily India’s domestic aviation system depends on a single large carrier. With IndiGo handling more than 60% of India’s domestic traffic, any major breakdown has a nationwide impact.
IndiGo has said it is working to stabilise operations and blamed the crisis on “multiple factors,” including new safety rules on pilot rest time and staff availability. The airline claims cancellations will gradually reduce over the next few days.
For now, travellers have been advised to check flight status frequently and expect possible delays. With Christmas and New Year travel approaching, the government is closely monitoring the situation to prevent further disruptions.
