DGCA cuts domestic flights by 12% in summer schedule to avoid disruptions
DGCA reduces domestic flights by 12% in summer 2026 schedule, taking a cautious approach to avoid disruptions and ensure operational readiness.
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Taking a cautious approach this year, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has reduced domestic flights by around 12% in the summer schedule that came into effect from Sunday, compared to last year.
The decision comes after lessons learned from previous disruptions, with aviation authorities choosing to act more carefully this time.
A key reason behind the cut is stricter scrutiny of expansion plans by IndiGo, the country’s largest airline. While the airline had projected adding one aircraft per week, authorities clarified that flight approvals would only be granted once aircraft are actually inducted and supported by adequate operational resources, including sufficient pilots.
According to reports, officials wanted to avoid a repeat of situations like last December, when operational challenges had impacted services. As a result, not only IndiGo but other airlines have also reduced their planned domestic flights for the summer.
Last year, the DGCA had approved around 25,610 weekly domestic flights, which was 5.5% higher than the 24,275 flights approved for summer 2024. However, this year the number is expected to be lower by nearly 3,000 flights, reflecting a reduction of about 12%.