India’s aviation regulator has ordered IndiGo to reduce its planned flights by 5% following major cancellations. The airline scrapped at least 2,000 flights last week due to poor pilot roster planning. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also asked IndiGo to submit a revised schedule by Wednesday.
The DGCA instructed the airline to cut flights on competitive routes and avoid those where it holds a monopoly. The notice did not specify an end date for the reductions. Officials said the action aims to maintain passenger service quality and ensure regulatory compliance.
Read more: India to penalize IndiGo after 2,000 flight cancellations
IndiGo had approval for 15,014 weekly departures during the winter season. However, it canceled 951 flights in November out of 64,346 approved for the month. The airline faced criticism for not adjusting to new pilot rest and duty rules effective from November 1.
The cancellations have affected tens of thousands of passengers and damaged IndiGo’s reputation. Its shares dropped 0.22% to 4,912 rupees on Tuesday, losing 17.1% of value since December 1. Analysts said operational planning failures were the key factor behind the turmoil.
Read more: IndiGo chaos: 1200 flights cancelled, passengers stranded
Authorities said further actions may follow to ensure compliance and set an example. IndiGo has not responded to media requests for comment. The regulator emphasized that passenger safety and schedule reliability remain top priorities.