New Delhi: In a decisive regulatory intervention following days of massive disruptions in IndiGo services across the country, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered a 5% reduction in the airline’s operating slots nationwide. The directive is expected to reduce IndiGo’s daily flight operations by approximately 110 services, marking the first major disciplinary action against the carrier during the crisis.
According to aviation guidelines, slots represent the total take-off and landing permissions granted to an airline at a particular airport within a 24-hour period. The slash in permitted slots means IndiGo will need to cut scheduled destinations and time bands across key airports. For instance, an airline operating 100 slots from Hyderabad Airport will now be restricted to 95 slots, effectively reducing services from 50 destinations to 47.
The DGCA confirmed that the withdrawn slots will be reallocated to competing carriers including Air India, SpiceJet and Akasa Air, to improve utilisation of airport infrastructure and ease congestion for passengers. On Tuesday alone, IndiGo was forced to cancel 41 flights in Chennai, comprising 23 arrivals and 18 departures. Multiple cancellations were also reported in Delhi, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram, continuing the trend of nationwide disruptions seen over the past week.
Officials said the decision was aimed at bringing “operational discipline” after repeated flight delays and cancellations caused major inconvenience to travellers. Although IndiGo currently commands nearly 60% of India’s domestic aviation market, experts say the impact of the slot cut will be felt in both flight scheduling and ground-handling operations. Analysts also view the decision as a regulatory warning signalling that non-compliance with passenger service standards will trigger action.
IndiGo is yet to issue an official statement on the slot reduction. Aviation observers expect the airline to overhaul its scheduling strategy and passenger management systems to mitigate further disruptions. Meanwhile, travellers have been advised to closely monitor flight updates, as more cancellations are likely during the adjustment phase.