IndiGo surrenders over 700 slots, metro flights hit after DGCA's 10% cut order
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The country's largest airline, IndiGo, has been forced to bow to the strictures of aviation regulator DGCA. Following the DGCA's order following widespread operational disruptions due to fog, IndiGo has relinquished over 700 of its slots at domestic airports. This action is a result of the chaos that erupted in early December, when thousands of flights were affected by fog and other reasons. Between December 3 and 5, approximately 2,507 IndiGo flights were cancelled and 1,852 were delayed, causing significant inconvenience to over 300,000 passengers across the country. In light of this mismanagement, the DGCA had issued a strict order to reduce the airline's winter schedule by 10 percent.
There will be a big impact on air traffic in metro cities
The list of 717 slots submitted by IndiGo to the ministry clearly shows that the biggest impact will be on the country's major metros. According to sources, 364 of the total surrendered slots are from six major metro airports: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. Of these, the biggest reductions are expected for flights to Hyderabad and Bengaluru. These slots have been vacated for the period from January to March. To address the situation, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has immediately sought applications from other airlines for these vacant slots, ensuring minimal inconvenience to passengers. However, the ministry has stipulated that no airline will close its existing routes to avail these new slots.
It is not easy to get slots for other airlines
Even though the government has opened the doors to other companies, aviation experts believe that other airlines are unlikely to show much interest in taking these slots. The main reason for this is that planning and launching any new route is a lengthy process, making it difficult to execute on such short notice. Furthermore, most of the vacant slots are for "red-eye" flights (late night or early morning flights), which are generally less popular with passengers and are not very profitable for airlines.
DGCA sends a strong message with fines and bank guarantees
This time, the DGCA didn't just stop at slot cuts, but also imposed financial penalties on the airline. On January 17, the regulator imposed a hefty fine of ₹22.20 crore on IndiGo for operational deficiencies. Furthermore, the airline's CEO, Peter Elbers, was issued a warning and IndiGo was directed to deposit a bank guarantee of ₹50 crore to ensure future improvements. This action is being seen as a strong message to maintain discipline in the aviation sector.