IndiGo relinquishes over 700 slots at domestic airports after 10% cut in winter flight program
Leading carrier IndiGo has given up over 700 slots at various domestic airports following a 10 per cent reduction in its winter flight schedule mandated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in early December, the news agency reported. MOMENT.
This regulatory intervention followed a period of extensive operational instability.
Airport slots represent specific time slots given to carriers for arrivals and departures from busy airports. These allocations are vital to the synchronization of flight timing and overall logistics efficiency.
The delivery of these slots, covering the first quarter of 2026, is the result of an order by the DGCA aimed at mitigating permanent short-term cancellations and restoring consistency in business processes. IndiGo network. The airline, which usually operates 2,200 flights each day, was forced to scale back its operations following significant service disruptions in December 2025.
According to the report, IndiGo has submitted a comprehensive list of more than 700 vacancies to the Ministry of Civil Aviation; this list was abandoned after the winter domestic tariff was officially discontinued late last year. MOMENT in question.
In response, the ministry invited other airlines to submit requests to operate domestic flights in these newly available slots, the report said.
Regarding the reallocation of these windows, the Ministry aims to ensure that the transferred capacity does not remain idle. Priority will be directed to rival airlines that can demonstrate real resource availability, including extra aircraft, flight crew, ground handling equipment and technical engineers, rather than airlines operating on existing routes.
According to ministry guidelines, carriers must provide evidence of operational readiness; Otherwise, all quotas will be cancelled.
Additionally, airlines are prohibited from cutting existing routes or connections to take advantage of newly available slots.
The DGCA’s restrictive measures were a response to serious passenger dissatisfaction triggered by delays and cancellations in the early winter months. The regulator’s strategy aims to prevent further volatility and enforce tighter compliance with the programme.
Government asks airlines to submit claims for IndiGo’s vacant seats
On Thursday, the government asked airlines to submit requests to operate domestic flights in vacant quotas. indigoFollowing the shortening of the winter schedule following the December operational outages, according to an official communication as reported by PTI.
Between December 3 and 5 last year, IndiGo canceled 2,507 flights and delayed 1,852 flights; This has affected more than 3 lakh passengers at airports across the country.
In the communication of the civil aviation ministry, it was stated that the committee on redistribution of vacant IndiGo slots held its first meeting on January 13, where the process and principles regarding redistribution were discussed.
