Govt orders 10% operations cut as Indigo cancellations continue for eighth day

IndiGo faced intensifying pressure on Tuesday as flight disruptions stretched into the eighth consecutive day, forcing the government to order a 10 per cent cut in the airline’s operations across its network. The move came after more than 400 flights were cancelled in a single day, adding to nearly 5,000 cancellations since the disruption began and triggering widespread inconvenience for passengers across the country.

Delhi and Bengaluru remained the worst-hit hubs, together accounting for over half of Tuesday’s cancellations. According to available data, at least 152 flights were grounded from Delhi and 121 from Bengaluru. Significant cancellations were also reported from Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Thiruvananthapuram and Mumbai, highlighting the scale of the operational crisis facing the country’s largest airline.

In response to the ongoing chaos, the civil aviation ministry summoned IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers to seek clarity on the airline’s recovery plan. The ministry said IndiGo had failed to demonstrate its ability to efficiently operate both winter and summer schedules, prompting the decision to curtail capacity. Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated that reducing overall operations was essential to stabilise services and limit further cancellations. While the Directorate General of Civil Aviation initially ordered a 5 per cent reduction, the ministry raised it to a minimum of 10 per cent citing persistent operational constraints.

Earlier in the day, Elbers issued a video message on IndiGo’s X handle, apologising “profusely” to passengers and claiming the airline was “back on its feet.” He said restoration of the network was being carried out on a “war footing,” with operations steadily improving over the last few days. The IndiGo chief also said that lakhs of customers had already received full refunds, while the remaining claims were being processed daily. Most delayed baggage had been delivered, with the rest expected shortly, he added.

Despite the curbs, IndiGo said it operated over 1,800 flights on Tuesday and plans to run nearly 1,900 flights on Wednesday, connecting all 138 destinations in its network. The airline claimed its on-time performance had returned to normal and refund procedures had been automated with a “no questions asked” policy.

The issue also reached the highest political levels, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi telling NDA MPs that passengers should not be harassed or troubled due to operational failures, underscoring the government’s focus on consumer inconvenience amid the crisis.