India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has ordered IndiGo to trim its daily flight schedule by five percent, translating to a reduction of 115 flights per day. The decision follows weeks of severe disruptions, cancellations, and widespread delays as the airline continues to struggle with staffing shortages and new pilot duty-time regulations.
IndiGo, which operates around 2,300 flights daily, has been formally notified of the mandatory cut. Officials said the airline is currently working out which routes will see reductions, with an attempt to avoid major connectivity gaps. A further 5% cut remains under consideration depending on how the airline stabilizes operations in the coming days.
Why This Crisis Escalated
IndiGo entered the winter schedule (effective October 26) with a 6% increase in daily domestic flights, rising to 15,014 flights per week. However, on November 1, the more stringent Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL Phase II) requiring more rest hours and larger pilot rosters came into effect.
IndiGo did not sufficiently ramp up crew numbers ahead of this shift, resulting in a severe mismatch between capacity and manpower. What began as modest cancellations in November snowballed into a full-blown crisis in early December, with hundreds of flights cancelled every day.
India’s second-largest airline group also reported schedule changes:
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Summer weekly domestic flights: 7,685
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Winter weekly domestic flights reduced by 3% to 7,448
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Other airlines too saw adjustments Akasa cut winter flights by 5.7%, while SpiceJet increased operations by over 26%.
Regulators are now facing scrutiny for permitting IndiGo to scale up its schedule without verifying whether the airline had adequate crew availability under the new FDTL rules.
Adding to its troubles, IndiGo’s Airbus A320 fleet induction plan has been put on hold until February 10, 2026, pending a review.
Government and Regulator Respond
The aviation ministry has taken “very strict note” of the situation. It insists exemplary action will follow if lapses are confirmed.
Meanwhile, DGCA is actively monitoring real-time data from airlines and online travel platforms to ensure compliance with safety and scheduling norms.
IndiGo’s Explanation
IndiGo has blamed the turmoil on a “compounding effect of multiple factors,” calling the crisis an “unfortunate and unforeseeable confluence.” According to the airline, disruptions were fueled by:
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Minor technical glitches
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Winter schedule changes
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Adverse weather and higher congestion
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Increased passenger load during peak season
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Implementation of new FDTL Phase II rules
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Insufficient crew availability for expanded flight schedules
The airline maintains it is working urgently to restore operational stability.
