Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Aviation regulator DGCA has slashed IndiGo’s approved winter flight schedule by 5% after determining the airline has been unable to operate its previously sanctioned 15,014 weekly departures efficiently. The order follows weeks of large-scale cancellations triggered by crew shortage and new pilot duty norms, disrupting tens of thousands of passengers nationwide.
DGCA Flags Gap Between Approved Schedule and IndiGo’s Operating Ability
The notice directs IndiGo to reduce operations across high-demand and high-frequency sectors and avoid becoming the sole operator on any route. The revised schedule must be submitted by 5 pm on Wednesday. A 5% reduction on 2,145 daily domestic flights equals about 108 fewer daily departures — around 751 fewer flights per week — with additional cuts possible depending on operational stabilisation. DGCA data shows IndiGo operated 59,438 flights in November 2025 instead of the estimated 64,346, recording 951 cancellations despite having approvals based on assumed availability of 403 aircraft. The airline actually operated only 344 aircraft in November.
New Rostering Rules and Rising Flight Volume Trigger Crisis
IndiGo increased domestic flights by nearly 10% compared to winter 2024, and by 6% from the summer 2025 schedule, without matching crew strength to comply with the new flight duty time limitation (FDTL) rules that came into effect on November 1 and significantly increased pilot requirement. The mismatch caused modest cancellations in November but spiralled into a full-blown crisis in early December, with hundreds of cancellations per day. The airline currently has an exemption from certain FDTL provisions for its Airbus A320 fleet until February 10, 2026, after which further disruptions may occur unless capacity matches crew availability.
Industry Impact and Accountability Questions
While IndiGo’s schedule grew, other carriers saw marginal adjustments — Air India and AI Express reduced capacity by 0.8% and 6%, respectively; Akasa cut 5.7%; whereas SpiceJet increased by over 26% as it ramps up operations. With IndiGo holding over 60% domestic market share, industry experts are questioning why aviation authorities approved additional flights without verifying pilot availability under updated regulations. IndiGo attributed the crisis to a “compound effect” of weather, minor technical issues, winter schedule transitions, congestion and the impact of new crew rules.
