Government Orders IndiGo to Cut 10% Flights Amid Widespread Disruptions
<p>India’s largest airline, <strong>IndiGo</strong>, has been instructed by the government to <strong>cut its flight operations by 10 percent</strong>, a move that will result in the cancellation of <strong>more than 200 flights daily</strong>. The decision comes after days of large-scale disruptions across the country that left thousands of passengers stranded and triggered widespread complaints, despite repeated assurances from the airline that operations had stabilised.</p><p>IndiGo operates approximately <strong>2,200 flights each day</strong>, making the mandated reduction one of the most significant regulatory interventions in recent years. The curtailment will remain in effect until the carrier is able to demonstrate sustained operational stability and a sharp reduction in cancellations and delays.</p><p>The directive was issued on Wednesday by the <strong>Ministry of Civil Aviation</strong> following an <strong>urgent meeting with IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers</strong>, who was summoned for a detailed briefing on the crisis. The move signals the government’s strongest response yet to a week-long period of flight cancellations, delayed schedules, and mounting passenger frustration at major airports across India.</p><h3>Government says cut essential to restore stability</h3><p>According to the airline, the government believes that reducing the number of daily flights will help IndiGo better manage crew availability, aircraft deployment, and on-time performance. In a statement shared on social media platform X, the airline said the ministry felt the curtailment was necessary to “stabilise operations” and prevent further inconvenience to passengers.</p><p>Despite the reduction, IndiGo maintained that it would <strong>continue serving all destinations within its network</strong>, though with fewer frequencies on individual routes. The airline stressed that passenger safety and service delivery remained its top priorities during the adjustment period.</p><h3>Strict compliance measures imposed</h3><p>Alongside the flight cut, the ministry has directed IndiGo to strictly adhere to all consumer protection and operational guidelines issued by aviation authorities. These include <strong>fare caps on affected routes</strong>, enhanced <strong>passenger assistance measures</strong>, and <strong>strict timelines for refunds and baggage delivery</strong> for disrupted flights.</p><p>IndiGo said it has already processed <strong>100 percent of refunds for flights cancelled up to December 6</strong>. However, the airline acknowledged that it has been instructed to accelerate remaining refunds and ensure delayed baggage is returned to passengers without further delays.</p><h3>CEO summoned as crisis escalates</h3><p>The decision to summon IndiGo’s chief executive underscored the seriousness of the situation. Officials rarely call in airline CEOs for emergency consultations, making the meeting an indication of the scale of the operational failure.</p><p>Earlier on Wednesday, Pieter Elbers had publicly stated that the airline was “back on its feet” and thanked customers for their patience. However, continued cancellations and fresh passenger complaints soon after prompted authorities to take firmer action.</p><p>Civil Aviation Minister <strong>K. Ram Mohan Naidu</strong> later confirmed that the ministry conducted an in-depth review of IndiGo’s operations before deciding on the curtailment. He said swift intervention was necessary to restore normalcy and rebuild consumer confidence in the aviation system.</p><h3>DGCA toughens stance</h3><p>Initially, the <strong>Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)</strong> had proposed a <strong>5 percent reduction</strong> in IndiGo’s flights. But after reviewing the severity of disruptions, the ministry raised the figure to <strong>10 percent</strong>, with the DGCA issuing a revised notification shortly thereafter.</p><p>In addition, the aviation regulator has served <strong>show-cause notices to senior IndiGo executives</strong> and launched a <strong>formal investigation</strong> into the airline’s recent operational breakdown. The inquiry will examine issues such as crew planning, scheduling practices, aircraft availability, and compliance with regulatory norms.</p><p>Addressing Parliament earlier, Minister Naidu said that depending on the investigation’s findings, <strong>strict action under the Aircraft Rules and Act</strong> could follow.</p><h3>Growing scrutiny on India’s aviation sector</h3><p>While IndiGo has insisted that most routes are now operating smoothly, the crisis has reignited debate over the sustainability of India’s rapidly expanding aviation sector. With passenger numbers surging year after year, airlines are under pressure to scale operations quickly — often stretching crews, fleets, and airport infrastructure to their limits.</p><p>Aviation experts say the episode highlights the risks of aggressive growth without adequate buffers. Crew mismanagement, insufficient reserve capacity, and tight turnaround schedules can quickly cascade into large-scale disruptions when unexpected issues arise.</p><h3>Looking ahead</h3><p>With the <strong>holiday travel season approaching</strong>, authorities are keen to avoid a repeat of the chaos witnessed in recent days. The 10 percent capacity cut is expected to remain in place until IndiGo demonstrates consistent on-time performance and a sustained drop in cancellations.</p><p>For now, the airline remains under intense regulatory and public scrutiny. How quickly IndiGo stabilises its operations and restores passenger trust will likely shape both regulatory oversight and broader industry reforms in the months ahead.</p>