The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has instructed IndiGo to reduce its approved Winter Schedule 2025 by 5 per cent. This step comes after the airline faced operational shortfalls and reported a high number of flight cancellations in November.
According to the DGCA notice dated December 8, IndiGo was cleared to operate 64,346 flights in November 2025, equating to 15,014 weekly departures. However, operational data submitted by the airline revealed that only 59,438 flights were actually operated, with 951 cancellations reported.
The regulator noted that although IndiGo was allowed a 6 per cent enhancement compared to Summer 2025 with an available fleet of 403 aircraft, the airline operated only 339 aircraft in October and 344 in November.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) observed that IndiGo has not yet demonstrated the capacity to manage these schedules efficiently.
DGCA has asked IndiGo to submit a revised winter schedule by 5 pm on December 10.
IndiGo stated that its operations have recovered significantly, operating more than 1,800 flights across its network.
The airline highlighted a major improvement in on-time performance, reaching 90 per cent on Monday, up from nearly 75 per cent the previous day. IndiGo claims that all planned cancellations for Monday were finalized and shared with passengers on Sunday to prevent last-minute inconvenience.
IndiGo has processed refunds totaling ₹827 crore for cancellations up to December 15, with remaining cases underway.
Between December 1–7, the airline arranged 9,500+ hotel rooms and nearly 10,000 cab and bus services for stranded travelers.
Over 4,500 delayed bags have been returned, with the rest expected within 36 hours.
IndiGo supports 200,000+ customers daily via multiple communication channels, with staff working round-the-clock.
The airline reassured passengers that all operations comply with Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) and safety regulations, emphasizing collaboration with authorities to maintain stable and safe operations.
The DGCA received IndiGo’s reply to the show cause notice issued over widespread cancellations. The regulator noted that the airline was “profusely apologetic” for the inconvenience caused.
Notices were issued to IndiGo’s CEO Pieter Elbers and Accountable Manager Isidro Porqueras.
The deadline for response was extended to 6 pm on Monday.
The airline explained that disruptions stemmed from technical issues, winter schedule adjustments, bad weather, congestion, and crew rostering under FDTL Phase II.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation directed senior officers to inspect key airports, including:
Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Guwahati, Goa, Thiruvananthapuram.
High-Level Review
Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu instructed officials to verify airline operations and passenger services.
In Parliament, the minister clarified that the issues arose from crew rostering and planning, not aircraft maintenance or scheduling systems.
On Tuesday, IndiGo cancelled nearly 180 flights from Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
Bengaluru accounted for 121 cancellations, Hyderabad for 58.
The previous day, 562 flights were cancelled from six major metro airports.
Corrective Measures
Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha stated:
A detailed inquiry will be completed in 15 days.
Corrective actions will be implemented to prevent future disruptions.
IndiGo’s operations are almost normalized, with over 1,800 flights operating on Monday.
90 per cent of delayed baggage delivered; remaining within 24 hours.
100 per cent refunds have been processed; airfare caps are enforced (₹7,500 for 500 km, ₹18,000 beyond 1,500 km).
IndiGo’s winter schedule disruptions have highlighted operational challenges and the critical importance of crew planning, fleet management, and robust customer support. While the airline is showing signs of recovery, the DGCA and Ministry of Civil Aviation remain vigilant, ensuring passenger safety, timely flights, and proper compensation. The ongoing inspections and inquiries aim to strengthen airline accountability and prevent similar crises in the future.