India’s largest airline, IndiGo, is preparing to slash 400–500 flights a day, a move that is expected to leave tens of thousands of passengers stranded and drive airfares sharply upward during the busiest travel period of the year. With few spare aircraft available, rival airlines are unlikely to bridge the sudden capacity gap.
Up to 81,000 Daily Passengers Affected
Data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for October shows IndiGo carried 91.96 lakh passengers, accounting for 65% of all domestic flyers. This translates to roughly 2.96 lakh passengers per day during the festive season.
Based on a typical Airbus A320 capacity of 180 seats and an estimated 90% occupancy rate, cutting 400–500 flights daily could impact 65,000 to 81,000 travellers every single day — many of whom booked their tickets well in advance.
Airfares Set to Spike
With the Christmas–New Year rush approaching, travel experts warn that the sudden capacity crunch will push ticket prices even higher.
“Airfares were already elevated, and this reduction will create an additional mismatch between supply and demand,” said Aloke Bajpai, CEO of travel platform ixigo.
He noted that passengers are already shifting to trains and buses due to soaring domestic airfares.
IndiGo Is Sole Operator on Key Routes
The airline is the only carrier operating to 20–25 domestic destinations, including:
- Allahabad
- Kanpur
- Bareilly
- Purnea
This means travellers on these routes will have no option other than rail or road travel when flights are cancelled.
Why the Cuts? DGCA Order for 10% Reduction
The DGCA has instructed IndiGo to cut flights by 10%, especially on routes where it dominates, to encourage competition and reduce passenger dependency on a single carrier.
But other airlines are unable to pick up the slack. Air India Group, Akasa, and SpiceJet are all struggling with:
- Aircraft shortages
- Delayed deliveries
- Supply-chain disruptions post-COVID
Shifting limited capacity from major trunk routes to smaller cities is not financially viable during peak season.
Ticket Prices Rising Despite Fare Caps
Government fare caps currently range from:
- ₹7,500 for a 500 km route
- ₹18,000 for distances above 1,500 km
But as seat availability drops, last-minute bookings are becoming disproportionately expensive, especially within 15 days of departure.
Refunds Offer Little Relief to Passengers
While IndiGo has processed ₹829 crore in refunds, passengers still lose money because:
- Airport fees
- CISF charges
- Taxes
are non-refundable, even when the airline cancels the flight.
India’s compensation rules also fall short. Under current norms:
- Compensation applies only for cancellations, not delays
- Passengers get ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 depending on flight duration
- Baggage damage or loss compensation is capped at ₹20,000
- Penalties are rarely enforced
EU Rules Are Far More Generous
Under EU Regulation 261, passengers automatically receive:
- €250 to €600 (₹26,000 to ₹62,400) for cancellations, long delays, or denied boarding
- €1,300 (₹1,35,000) for delayed, damaged, or lost baggage
Compared to this, India’s policies offer minimal financial protection and fail to account for additional burdens such as expensive rebooking, overnight stays, and ruined travel plans.
