What happens to IndiGo's vacated flight slots after DGCA's 10% schedule reduction?
Aviation News Editor & Industry Analyst delivering clear coverage for a worldwide audience.
India's Civil Aviation Ministry is redistributing domestic flight slots vacated by IndiGo following the DGCA's 10% winter schedule cut due to December disruptions.
Key Takeaways
- •DGCA mandated a 10% reduction in IndiGo's winter schedule following 2,507 flight cancellations and 1,852 delays in December 2025.
- •The Civil Aviation Ministry is now redistributing the vacated domestic flight slots, with a key condition that interested airlines must demonstrate fresh capacity and not discontinue existing routes.
- •The DGCA imposed a record ₹22.20 crore fine on IndiGo and ordered a ₹50-crore bank guarantee to ensure long-term systemic corrections, citing poor crew management and inadequate operational buffers.
- •Industry interest is reportedly low for the 'insignificant' red-eye slots, but the process provides a rare opportunity for rivals like Air India and Akasa Air to secure capacity at major, slot-constrained airports.
The Indian government has officially invited airlines to submit requests for domestic flight slots vacated by the country’s largest carrier, IndiGo. This action follows the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mandating a 10% reduction in IndiGo’s winter schedule. The curtailment was a direct response to massive operational failures that occurred in December 2025.
Background to the Slot Vacancy
IndiGo faced severe operational disruptions between December 3 and 5, 2025. During this three-day period, the airline cancelled 2,507 flights. An additional 1,852 flights were significantly delayed. This widespread chaos impacted over 300,000 passengers across India’s airports.
The DGCA attributed the failure to several systemic issues. These included inadequate crew management and poor regulatory preparedness. The regulator also cited shortcomings in system software and operational control.
Specifically, the DGCA found the airline focused too heavily on maximizing resource utilization. This approach led to reduced roster buffer margins for crew. Crew rosters were designed to operate near the limits of permissible duty periods. This compromised the airline's operational resilience. It also adversely impacted the implementation of revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) provisions.
Regulatory Enforcement and Financial Impact
The DGCA imposed a significant penalty on the airline. On January 17, 2026, the regulator announced a fine of ₹22.20 crore (approximately $2.7 million). The DGCA also issued warnings to CEO Pieter Elbers and other senior executives.
Furthermore, the DGCA directed IndiGo to furnish a ₹50-crore bank guarantee. This guarantee is intended to ensure long-term systemic corrections are implemented. The bank guarantee will be released in phases. Each phase requires verification of compliance by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The operational disruptions and subsequent regulatory action took a financial toll. IndiGo reported a 78% decline in profit for the quarter ending December 2025. The profit fell to ₹549.1 crore.
Slot Redistribution Process and Conditions
The Civil Aviation Ministry established a committee to manage the slot redistribution. This committee held its first meeting on January 13, 2026. The panel discussed the principles and process for allocating the vacated slots.
On January 22, 2026, the Ministry communicated the formal request to airlines. Airlines must submit their requests and preferences to the concerned airport operators. The final decision rests with the Ministry's panel.
Key conditions for interested airlines include:
- Demonstrating Fresh Capacity: Preference is given to airlines that can prove they have additional aircraft, pilots, and cabin crew.
- No Route Discontinuation: Airlines must not discontinue their existing routes or sector connectivity to utilize the new slots. This prevents a simple reshuffling of current operations.
- Operational Preparedness: Airlines must share details of their operational readiness. Failure to do so may result in the cancellation of assigned slots.
Industry Response and Market Competition
While the vacated slots represent an opportunity, industry sentiment is mixed. The DGCA's mandate forced IndiGo to surrender slots. However, an airline industry executive noted a lack of interest in the insignificant slots. Many of the vacated timings are reportedly red-eye flights or low-utility slots.
Despite this, the move creates a window for rivals to gain market share. Full-service carriers like Air India and fast-growing low-cost entrants like Akasa Air may covet prime slots. These slots are available in major hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. The DGCA's strict conditions aim to ensure the slots are used to add capacity to the Indian domestic flight slots market. This prevents slot hoarding and protects passenger choice.
flying.flights provides comprehensive commercial aviation news covering airlines, aircraft, and airports.
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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