India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has officially reduced IndiGo’s flight schedule by 5 per cent, a move triggered by widespread disruptions across the airline’s network since December 1, 2025.
The order, issued Tuesday, directs IndiGo to temporarily scale down operations across several sectors, with the largest impact expected on high-demand, high-frequency routes. This reduction is intended to stabilize operations, improve reliability, and reduce last-minute cancellations that have affected thousands of passengers in recent weeks.
The DGCA has further instructed IndiGo to submit a revised operational schedule by 5 pm on Wednesday, signaling the regulator’s urgency to normalise the situation and safeguard passenger interests.
This development comes just one day after the Civil Aviation Minister announced that the government would intervene in IndiGo’s winter schedule amid ongoing operational challenges. Currently, under the Winter 2025–26 schedule, IndiGo has been flying over 2,200 flights daily, making it the largest airline in the country—both by fleet size and passenger traffic.
At its core, this decision is more than a regulatory action — it’s a reminder that aviation reliability directly touches human lives. Behind every delayed or cancelled flight is someone waiting to reach home, attend a job interview, reunite with loved ones, or secure a life-changing opportunity. Ensuring stability in the skies is not just operational necessity; it is human responsibility.
