IndiGo Grounded By Government Order To Slash Ten Percent Of Its Flights, Exclusive Leading To Widespread Cancellations And Delays Due To Ongoing Disruptions

Published on December 10, 2025

IndiGo, India’s leading low-cost airline, has been grounded by a government directive mandating the airline to slash ten percent of its flights. This exclusive decision comes in the wake of ongoing disruptions within the airline’s operations, leading to a domino effect of widespread cancellations and delays. The government’s move is part of a larger effort to ensure smoother air traffic management and better compliance with safety and regulatory standards, but it has left thousands of passengers stranded and facing significant travel inconveniences. The cuts are expected to have a long-lasting impact on the airline’s flight schedules, further complicating travel plans for both domestic and international travelers.

India’s largest airline has been ordered to reduce its operations by 10% following a series of significant disruptions that led to more than 2,000 flight cancellations. Despite the airline’s claims that its services had returned to normal, widespread passenger complaints and long delays prompted the Indian government to intervene.

The airline, which typically operates around 2,200 flights daily, will now face a reduction of more than 200 daily departures until its operations stabilize. This measure comes after a week of extensive disruptions that left passengers frustrated, with many taking to social media to voice their dissatisfaction. The Ministry of Civil Aviation issued the directive after reviewing the situation and meeting with the airline’s leadership. This marks the government’s strongest response yet, following a surge in complaints regarding long delays, cancellations, and overcrowding at airports.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation’s decision to cut the airline’s daily operations by 10% comes as part of an effort to restore order and prevent further chaos. While the airline maintains that it has stabilized its operations, government officials believe that the drastic reduction in daily flights is necessary to avoid further disruptions and ensure passengers’ safety and comfort.

Despite the reduction in flights, the airline has assured passengers that it will continue to cover all destinations as before, although with fewer daily flights. The airline’s management has reiterated that its fleet and crew resources are fully committed to supporting the remaining scheduled flights. The airline also emphasized its commitment to providing smooth services by highlighting the support it is offering to affected passengers.

As part of the government’s intervention, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has outlined several strict instructions that the airline must adhere to. These include the implementation of fare caps on affected routes to ensure that passengers are not overcharged during this period of reduced operations. Additionally, the airline has been instructed to provide enhanced passenger assistance and convenience measures, including priority handling for those affected by delays and cancellations. The government has also mandated that the airline implement a strict timeline for refund processing and baggage delivery.

The airline confirmed that it had processed 100% of refunds for flights canceled up to December 6, and it has been instructed to expedite the handling of any remaining refunds. The government has also emphasized the need for the airline to ensure that baggage delivery timelines are adhered to, and that passengers receive their belongings as quickly as possible after disruptions. This is in response to numerous complaints from passengers regarding delays in baggage retrieval after their flights were canceled or delayed.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the country’s aviation regulatory body, had initially suggested a 5% reduction in the airline’s daily flights. However, after further assessment, the DGCA increased the required cut to 10%. This escalation followed the airline’s inability to fully address the operational issues and the continued frustration of passengers, who had faced long wait times at airports and lacked timely information regarding their flight status. The DGCA also issued show-cause notices to the airline’s senior management and launched a formal investigation into the cause of the disruptions. The investigation will examine various aspects of the airline’s operations, including its crew planning, rostering, and resource allocation.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has made it clear that, depending on the outcome of the investigation, further actions could be taken against the airline, including legal measures and possible fines. These actions would be in accordance with the Aircraft Rules and the Civil Aviation Act. The government’s stern stance on the issue signals that it will not tolerate further disruptions, especially with the busy holiday travel season approaching.

This operational crisis is considered one of the airline’s most severe in recent years. It has reignited discussions about the state of India’s rapidly growing aviation sector, which has seen significant expansion in recent years but is facing challenges in handling the increased demand. Industry experts have pointed to systemic stress within the aviation sector, including issues related to crew management and scheduling, that have contributed to the recent chaos.

Crew planning and rostering have been a longstanding concern for airlines in India. With the aviation sector growing at a fast pace, many carriers, including the largest airline, are under pressure to expand their operations quickly to meet passenger demand. However, this expansion has not always been accompanied by the necessary infrastructure and systems to handle the added complexity. Industry analysts have noted that airlines may need to reevaluate their staffing models and improve the training of their personnel to ensure smoother operations.

As the airline continues to grapple with this crisis, authorities are working to ensure that it stabilizes before the holiday travel rush. The reduction in daily flights is expected to ease the pressure on the airline’s operations, allowing it to regain its footing and restore normalcy. However, the situation remains fluid, and the airline faces ongoing scrutiny from both the government and the public. The Ministry of Civil Aviation is closely monitoring the situation and has made it clear that any further disruptions will result in stronger actions.

IndiGo has been grounded by a government order to cut ten percent of its flights due to ongoing operational disruptions, leading to widespread cancellations and delays as the airline works to comply with new air traffic regulations.

India’s largest airline is facing one of the most challenging periods in its history, with over 2,000 flight cancellations, widespread passenger complaints, and government intervention. The mandated 10% reduction in flights is a step toward restoring stability, but the airline’s long-term success will depend on its ability to address the underlying operational issues that led to the crisis. As the holiday travel season approaches, all eyes will be on the airline to see if it can recover from this setback and restore passenger confidence.