India Warns Of Strict Action Against Indigo, Orders 5% Reduction In Flights

India will take strict action against IndiGo following at least 2,000 flight cancellations this month, the country's civil aviation minister said on Monday, to "set an example" for airlines that violate regulations.

"We are doing an inquiry and will take very, very strict action... we will set an example for all the other airlines," Minister Ram Mohan Naidu told lawmakers. IndiGo did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Naidu's remarks, Reuters reported.

India's aviation regulator Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has served notices to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and COO Isidre Porqueras warning of regulatory action that could include penalties and officials being suspended, according to notices seen by Reuters on Saturday.

The DGCA has also reviewed the winter schedule 2025 of IndiGo and asked for a 5 per cent reduction in flights, after the airline replied to the show cause notice issued on Friday.

"IndiGo has not demonstrated the ability to operate its schedules efficiently. It is directed to reduce the schedule by 5 per cent across sectors. IndiGo is required to submit a revised schedule by 5pm on 10th December," the DGCA said in a statement.

In view of the large-scale disruptions caused at airports owing to the ongoing operational crisis by IndiGo, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued orders to officers at the level of Deputy Secretary Director/ Joint Secretary of the Ministry to physically visit all major airports within the coming days to assess the on-ground situation comprehensively. The airports include - Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Guwahati, Goa, Thiruvananthapuram, ANI reported.

Meanwhile, flight disruptions continued for the 8th day as Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport reported 14 arrivals and 17 departures were cancelled since Tuesday morning.

The airline has assured passengers that refunds for flights cancelled between 3 and 15 December 2025 are already being processed. "In case your plans have changed due to the disruption, we are also offering a full waiver on change and cancellation requests for all bookings valid for travel till 15th December 2025," they said.

The cancellations by India's biggest airline, due to crew shortages after it failed to plan in time for stricter rules on pilot rest, left tens of thousands of passengers stranded, upending vacation plans and weddings, and has sparked a growing passenger fury about lost luggage.

[With Reuters and ANI inputs]

MENAFN09122025000049011007ID1110456432