India Mandates IndiGo to Reduce Flights Amid Mass Cancellations

The Indian government has mandated that IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, reduce its planned flights by 10 percent following a wave of cancellations that affected at least 2,000 services over the past week. This decision comes after the airline faced significant backlash for its failure to adequately manage pilot rosters, leading to widespread disruptions that left tens of thousands of passengers stranded.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu announced the flight reduction on the social media platform X after a meeting with IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers. Elbers had cancelled a planned appearance at a high-profile industry event in London to address the crisis. The latest directive increases the flight cut from an earlier 5 percent and will result in the removal of at least 220 daily flights from IndiGo’s network.

Government’s Response to the Crisis

Naidu emphasized that the decision was necessary to stabilize the airline’s operations and mitigate further cancellations. In a statement, he said, “The Ministry considers it necessary to curtail the overall IndiGo routes, which will help in stabilising the airline’s operations and lead to reduced cancellations.”

The airline had already faced a crisis on December 9, 2023, when over 1,000 flights were cancelled in a single day as part of efforts to reboot its network. Elbers stated earlier that operations were “fully stabilised,” although the airline has received criticism for not preparing for new pilot rest and duty regulations that took effect on November 1.

In response to the ongoing issues, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had previously instructed IndiGo to cut 5 percent of its winter flight schedule and submit a revised plan by the following Wednesday. The regulator further advised IndiGo to reduce flights on routes where competitors operate and avoid monopolistic routes.

Impact on Operations and Market Reaction

No specific end date for the flight reductions has been announced. IndiGo has been operating under an approved schedule of 15,014 departures per week for the winter season, which typically sees a surge in travel demand in India. However, the airline cancelled 951 flights in November from a total of 64,346 flights approved for that month.

In the wake of the announcement, IndiGo shares saw a slight recovery, ending 0.9 percent higher at 4,967.5 rupees on Tuesday, marking the first gain in eight trading sessions. Despite this uptick, the shares have fallen 15.8 percent since December 1.

As the situation evolves, the focus remains on how IndiGo will manage its operations and restore passenger confidence in the wake of these significant disruptions. The airline’s ability to navigate this crisis will be closely monitored by both regulators and travelers alike.