Centre Cuts IndiGo’s Flight Schedule by 10% to Stabilise Operations Amid Ongoing Crisis

New Delhi, December 9, 2025— The civil aviation ministry on Tuesday directed IndiGo to reduce its flight schedule by 10 per cent, aiming to stabilise the airline’s operations after days of widespread disruptions caused by the transition to the second phase of new flight duty norms for pilots. The decision comes amid thousands of cancellations this month that left lakhs of passengers facing severe delays and confusion at airports across the country.

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers was called to the ministry to provide an update on the situation. According to the minister, the airline chief confirmed that refunds for all affected flights up to December 6 had been completed. Naidu emphasised that despite the mandated reduction in flights, IndiGo would continue to operate across all its existing destinations.

While the DGCA had earlier ordered a 5 per cent cut in the airline’s schedule, the ministry decided that a deeper 10 per cent curtailment was necessary to stabilise operations and minimise further cancellations. The minister noted that IndiGo’s internal mismanagement of crew rosters and schedules, along with inadequate communication, contributed extensively to last week’s disruptions.

The airline has been directed to strictly follow all ministry guidelines, including fare caps and measures to ensure passenger convenience. Naidu added that another round of meetings was held with IndiGo’s top management on Tuesday to assess progress on stabilisation efforts, with inquiries and corrective actions currently underway.