The Indian government on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 announced a major crackdown on the country’s largest airline operator, IndiGo, ordering the company to curtail 10% of its flight operations in the country.
Government crackdowns on airline operations have increased to 10%, up from the previous 5% reduction in air traffic levels imposed by the regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
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In a post on social media, Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu stressed that the aviation ministry believes it is necessary for IndiGo to reduce its overall route offering, which will help stabilize the company’s operations and reduce flight cancellations.
“The ministry considers it necessary to curtail Indigo’s overall routes, which will help stabilize airline operations and reduce cancellations. A 10% curtailment has been ordered. Even if Indigo complies, it will continue to cover all its destinations as before,” Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said in a social media post on X.
The government has directed IndiGo to follow all the ministry’s guidelines without any exceptions, including cap on fares and passenger comfort measures.
“Indigo has been instructed to follow all the ministry’s directives including fare restrictions and passenger comfort measures without any exception,” Naidu said in his post.
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IndiGo refunds
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers confirmed on Tuesday that 100% refunds for passengers who were affected until December 6, 2025, had been completed. The government has also imposed strict instructions on IndiGo to expedite outstanding refunds and handover of baggage to affected individuals.
“@IndiGo6E CEO Pieter Elbers was summoned to the ministry again today to provide an update. He confirmed that 100% refunds for the affected flights up to 6 December have been completed. A strict instruction has been issued to expedite the completion of the remaining refunds and handover of baggage,” the aviation minister said on Tuesday.
DGCA action against IndiGo flight
India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), announced on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 that IndiGo has increased its departures by 9.66% compared to the winter 24 schedule and by 6.05% compared to the summer 25 schedule.
Read also | ‘We’re sorry…’: IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers apologizes amid cancellations
The regulator also highlighted that the airline had not demonstrated the ability to operate schedules effectively, reducing the schedule by 10% across its sectors.
“The airline has not demonstrated the ability to operate these schedules efficiently. Hence, it is directed to reduce the schedule by 10% across sectors, especially on high demand, high frequency flights and avoid single flight operations in the sector by IndiGo,” the DGCA said in an official statement.
The authority also directed the company to submit a revised schedule by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 10, 2025.
More than 350 flights to and from airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru were reportedly canceled on Tuesday, leaving passengers stranded at airports across India.
