India's CCI Orders Probe Into IndiGo Dominance After Mass Flight Cancellations.
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CCI ordered a probe against IndiGo for prima facie abuse of dominant position following December 2025 mass flight cancellations that impacted over 982,000 passengers.
Key Takeaways
- •CCI ordered a detailed probe against IndiGo on February 4, 2026, for prima facie abuse of its dominant market position (over 60% share).
- •The investigation stems from the cancellation of over 2,500 flights in December 2025, which impacted over 982,000 passengers.
- •IndiGo and Air India are rerouting long-haul flights to avoid Iranian airspace, increasing flight times and fuel burn by up to 15%.
- •IndiGo is suspending Copenhagen service and reducing Delhi-London-Heathrow and Delhi-Manchester frequencies on its leased Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has ordered a detailed investigation into IndiGo for alleged unfair business practices.
The regulatory body's decision, issued on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, follows mass flight disruptions. These issues occurred in December 2025, causing significant hardship for passengers across the country. The CCI has made a prima facie conclusion that IndiGo has abused its dominant position in the market.
Abuse of Dominant Position Allegations
IndiGo is India’s largest airline. The carrier commands a significant share of the Indian domestic aviation market, historically over 60%. This market share makes the airline a dominant entity under competition law. The CCI's 16-page order states that the airline's actions restricted service provision.
By cancelling thousands of flights, IndiGo effectively withheld capacity. This conduct created an artificial scarcity of services during a period of peak travel demand. The regulator noted this conduct may violate Section 4(2)(b)(i) of the Competition Act. This section pertains to the abuse of a dominant position.
Operational Crisis and Passenger Impact
The widespread cancellations in December 2025 were linked to operational issues. The primary cause was the airline's failure to adapt its schedule. This failure was in response to new DGCA crew rest rules and time limitations. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) data shows the scale of the crisis. Over 9.82 lakh (982,000) passengers were impacted by IndiGo cancellations in December. The overall cancellation rate for IndiGo reached 9.65% that month.
In response to the chaos, the DGCA had previously cut the airline's winter schedule. The reduction was 10% and lasted until February 10. The CCI has directed its Director General to investigate the matter fully. A detailed investigation report is due within 90 days.
Long-Haul Operations Face Geopolitical Headwinds
In a separate operational challenge, IndiGo and Air India have stopped using Iranian airspace. This decision is due to evolving geopolitical circumstances.
Network Adjustments
Avoiding this airspace forces long-haul flights onto alternative routes. These new flight paths are longer and require burning more fuel. For IndiGo, this change has strained its wide-body schedule. The airline operates its long-haul routes with six leased Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
To ensure operational reliability, IndiGo announced network adjustments:
- Copenhagen Service Suspension: Flights to Copenhagen, Denmark, will be suspended from February 17.
- UK Route Reductions: Services on the Delhi–London-Heathrow route will be reduced. They will drop from five to four flights per week starting February 9.
- Manchester Frequency Cut: Delhi–Manchester services will also be reduced. They will drop from five to three weekly flights in a staggered manner.
These diversions can add between 1.5 to 3 hours to flight times. This increases fuel consumption by an estimated 5% to 15% per flight. Air India is also using alternative routes for its flights to the US, UK, and Europe. The situation highlights the vulnerability of airline schedules to external geopolitical factors. The increased operational costs will likely impact the financial performance of both carriers.
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Written by Ujjwal Sukhwani
Aviation News Editor & Industry Analyst delivering clear coverage for a worldwide audience. Covers flight operations, safety regulations, and market trends with expert analysis.
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