India has instructed IndiGo to reduce its scheduled flights by 10% after the airline canceled over 2,000 flights last week due to inadequate pilot roster planning, inconveniencing tens of thousands of passengers.
The increase from an initial 5% cut was revealed by civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu on X following a meeting with IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers, who skipped a major industry event in London to manage the situation.
This decision will eliminate at least 220 daily flights from IndiGo’s schedule, based on the airline’s operations before new pilot rest and duty regulations were enforced on November 1.
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“The Ministry deems it necessary to reduce IndiGo’s overall routes to stabilize operations and minimize cancellations,” Naidu stated on X.
IndiGo canceled over 1,000 flights on Friday alone to reset its network. Elbers mentioned on Tuesday that operations are now “fully stabilized.”
The airline has been criticized for inadequate planning for the new rest and duty rules, leading to grounded planes and disrupted travel plans.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) instructed IndiGo to cut 5% from its winter schedule and submit a revised plan by Wednesday.
The regulator advised IndiGo to cut flights on routes with competition and avoid monopolized routes. No specific end date for the cuts was given.
IndiGo did not immediately comment on the situation.
The DGCA had approved 15,014 weekly IndiGo departures for the winter season, a period of increased travel demand in India. The airline canceled 951 flights in November out of the 64,346 approved for the month.
On Tuesday, IndiGo shares rose by 0.9% to 4967.5 rupees, marking their first increase in eight sessions. Shares have declined by 15.8% since December 1.
