DGCA Takes Major Action Against IndiGo; 110 Daily Flights Cut, Government Warns of Jail Punishment
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Amid the turmoil in India’s aviation sector over the past week, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken its toughest action so far against IndiGo Airlines. Following the wave of flight cancellations since December 2 and growing anger among passengers, the regulator has ordered IndiGo to immediately cut 5% of its flight schedule. This means nearly 110 daily flights will either be cancelled or their slots reassigned to other airlines to help reduce crowding at airports.
According to DGCA, the action is based on IndiGo’s operational disorder. The regulator noted that the airline has failed to manage its operations due to new Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) norms and a severe shortage of crew. This has caused chaos at airports and inconvenienced lakhs of passengers. DGCA has clearly told the airline to operate with reduced capacity until it has adequate crew and a stable operational plan. Sources say the list of cancelled flights is being finalised, and the freed-up slots may be allotted to Air India, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet.
To protect passengers from unfair fares, DGCA has also imposed caps on ticket prices. The regulator has stated that airlines cannot charge more than ₹7,500 for travel up to 500 km, and not more than ₹15,000 for routes between 1,000 and 1,500 km. Meanwhile, Air India has begun deploying wide-body aircraft on domestic routes to assist affected passengers. IndiGo, in its response, has cited technical issues, bad weather, and new regulations, and has asked for more time to submit a detailed report. DGCA has formed a four-member special team to inspect IndiGo’s roster and manpower.
The matter has reached both Parliament and the Supreme Court. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu warned in Parliament that the government is taking the passenger crisis very seriously. If negligence by IndiGo is proven, responsible managers could face up to three years in jail, a fine of up to ₹1 crore, or both. The Supreme Court also expressed concern, noting that more than 5,000 flights have been cancelled so far, affecting over 6 lakh passengers.