IndiGo stabilizes operations, swaps ATR routes for fewer Airbus A320 flights

December 18, 2025 at 02:40 PM•2 min read

IndiGo has stabilized its network following the Indian DGCA's 10% schedule reduction, deploying Airbus A320s on former ATR routes.

Key Points

1IndiGo stabilized operations starting December 9, operating 2,200 flights daily after implementing the Indian DGCA's mandated 10% schedule reduction.
2Strategic capacity deployment involves replacing high-frequency ATR-72 routes with fewer, higher-capacity Airbus A320 flights to limit passenger inconvenience.
3Cuts were negligible in major hubs like Delhi and Mumbai but focused heavily on Bengaluru and Hyderabad, which saw a 10-12% reduction in frequencies.
4CEO Pieter Elbers confirmed the operational crisis is over, shifting focus to network resilience and root cause analysis across the organization.

IndiGo has confirmed the stabilization of its network operations, effective December 9, following a directive from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of India to implement a 10% reduction in its flight schedule. The airline is currently operating 2,200 flights daily under the revised schedule. While major hubs like Delhi and Mumbai saw negligible cancellations, the schedule adjustments focused primarily on high-frequency routes, leading to a 10-12% reduction in flights from Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

To comply with the frequency reduction mandate while minimizing the impact on available capacity, IndiGo implemented a strategic shift in aircraft deployment. The carrier temporarily withdrew its 78-seater ATR-72 aircraft from certain regional routes, such as Chennai-Trichy and Chennai-Madurai. These routes are now serviced by fewer flights utilizing the higher-capacity 180-seater Airbus A320 aircraft. This maneuver allows IndiGo to maintain a significant portion of its passenger capacity (Available Seat Kilometers) while adhering to the required reduction in flight movements.

IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers addressed employees, assuring them that the operational disruptions experienced earlier in the month are now behind the airline, and the focus has shifted to resilience, root cause analysis, and rebuilding systems. The CEO acknowledged that similar disruptions have affected large airlines globally and stressed the importance of learning from these events. A government official confirmed that the Indian DGCA will conduct a 15-day review of IndiGo’s revised operations to ensure sustained compliance and operational stability across the network.