Why did the DGCA force IndiGo to cut over 700 domestic flights?

India’s largest airline, IndiGo, has officially vacated 717 domestic airport slots. This action follows a strict directive from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The regulator curtailed the airline's winter flight schedule by 10%. This punitive measure was a direct response to widespread operational failures in early December.

The Regulatory Mandate and Penalties

The DGCA's order stemmed from a period of massive flight disruptions. Between December 3 and 5, 2025, IndiGo cancelled 2,507 flights and delayed 1,852 others. This chaos impacted over 300,000 passengers nationwide. The regulator attributed the crisis to the airline’s inadequate preparedness. Specifically, the airline failed to implement revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms for its pilots.

To enforce systemic change, the DGCA took firm regulatory action.

• On January 17, 2026, the DGCA imposed a total penalty of ₹22.20 crore on IndiGo.
• The airline was also directed to furnish a ₹50-crore bank guarantee.
• Warnings were issued to CEO Pieter Elbers and other senior executives.

This is one of the toughest enforcement actions against an Indian airline. The DGCA's goal is to prevent future short-notice cancellations.

Impact on Metro Airports and Passengers

The 717 domestic airport slots vacated by IndiGo span the period from January to March. These slots represent specific times for aircraft take-off and landing. The schedule curtailment directly affects flight frequency on numerous routes.

Key Affected Hubs

Of the total vacated slots, 364 are concentrated at six major metro airport slots. These hubs include:

• Delhi (DEL)
• Mumbai (BOM)
• Chennai (MAA)
• Kolkata (CCU)
• Bengaluru (BLR)
• Hyderabad (HYD)

Sources indicate that Hyderabad and Bengaluru airports have the highest number of surrendered slots. Passengers on these high-density routes will see the most significant changes to flight options. The DGCA cut reduced IndiGo’s daily domestic flights from 2,144 to approximately 1,930.

Opportunity for Other Airlines

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has swiftly invited applications from other carriers for these newly available slots. The government wants to ensure the surrendered capacity is utilized. This move is intended to avoid inconvenience to passengers and maintain connectivity.

However, the path for rival airlines is challenging. The Ministry has set strict conditions:

• Airlines must not discontinue existing routes to use the new slots.
• They must demonstrate operational readiness, including additional aircraft and crew.

Industry experts note a reluctance from competitors to take the slots. Many of the vacated slots are for 'red-eye' flights, which operate late at night or early morning. Furthermore, the temporary nature of the slots, only until the end of the winter schedule, makes network planning difficult. This situation highlights the operational complexities of India’s congested air traffic system and the high stakes of regulatory compliance.

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