The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is keeping a close watch on IndiGo’s operations after the airline reduced nearly 10 per cent of its flights, a move that has resulted in multiple airport slots being freed up across the network. In response, the Civil Aviation Ministry has activated a structured process to reassign these slots while aiming to minimise inconvenience to passengers.
To oversee the redistribution, the ministry has formed a seven-member committee that will evaluate applications from other carriers interested in taking over the unused slots. Officials said the process will adhere strictly to existing slot allocation norms and will be conducted in a transparent and equitable manner, with due consideration given to each airline’s operational preparedness.
The government has made it clear that slot allotment will depend on more than just aircraft availability. Airlines will also be assessed on their readiness in terms of trained pilots, cabin crew strength, and ground handling capabilities. Any carrier found lacking on these parameters could face cancellation of allotted slots, which may then be reassigned to other eligible operators.
IndiGo, meanwhile, has assured aviation authorities that its operations will stabilise after February 10, when temporary relaxations in flight duty time limitations are withdrawn by the DGCA. The airline has stated that it has adequate pilot resources to support its revised schedule, citing a strength of approximately 2,400 Airbus captains against a requirement of 2,280.
At present, IndiGo operates around 2,200 flights a day across domestic and international routes. The curtailed schedule is expected to remain in place until at least the end of March and may extend into the summer season. The airline has largely preserved services from major hubs such as Delhi and Mumbai, while reducing frequencies on select routes, particularly late-night and early-morning flights.
Despite the ministry’s efforts to streamline the redistribution process, industry insiders remain cautious about the actual demand for the vacated slots. Since the reductions involve scattered frequencies across various routes and time bands rather than complete route exits, airlines are expected to carefully evaluate the commercial and operational viability before seeking additional slots.
