New Delhi: India’s largest airline, IndiGo, has surrendered more than 700 airport slots across domestic airports after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation imposed a 10 per cent cut on its winter flight schedule in early December, following widespread operational disruptions.
Airport slots are designated time windows for aircraft take-offs and landings at busy airports and are crucial for maintaining flight schedules and operational efficiency. The surrendered slots cover the January to March 2026 period and are a direct consequence of the regulator’s directive aimed at reducing frequent last-minute cancellations and restoring operational stability.
Sources familiar with the matter said IndiGo has submitted a detailed list of over 700 vacated slots to the Civil Aviation Ministry. The ministry has subsequently invited other airlines to apply for operating domestic flights using these newly available slots.
IndiGo, which typically operates over 2,200 flights daily, was forced to scale back operations after major disruptions were reported in December 2025, leading to significant passenger inconvenience due to cancellations and delays. The DGCA’s action was intended to prevent further instability and ensure better adherence to published schedules.
For redistribution, the Civil Aviation Ministry has made it clear that the surrendered slots should not remain unutilised where additional capacity can be introduced. Preference will be given to airlines that can demonstrate operational readiness through the availability of additional aircraft, pilots, cabin crew, ground handling equipment and maintenance engineers, rather than merely reshuffling existing flights.
Airlines seeking the slots will be required to share details of their operational preparedness. Failure to do so may result in cancellation and reallocation of assigned slots. The ministry has also specified that existing routes or sector connectivity should not be discontinued in order to utilise the vacated slots.
Industry observers noted that a majority of the freed-up slots are at major aviation hubs, making them highly sought after. The development marks a significant shift in India’s domestic aviation landscape, where IndiGo continues to hold a dominant market share.
The airline has said it will comply with the DGCA’s directive and focus on improving reliability and passenger experience in the coming months.
