IndiGo Vacates 717 Slots After DGCA Cuts Winter Flights
IndiGo Vacates 717 Slots After DGCA Cuts Winter Flights
IndiGo releases 717 domestic slots as the aviation regulator trims winter schedule by 10%, inviting rivals to bid for capacity.
IndiGo vacated 717 slots at domestic airports after the DGCA cut the winter flights by 10% to curb disruptions and improve operational stability. The move comes as the airline adjusts to the regulator's mandate while the ministry seeks to fill the slots with other carriers to maintain connectivity across the network.
Of the total vacated slots, 364 are spread across six key metro airports—Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad—reflecting where the capacity changes are most pronounced. Among these cities, Hyderabad and Bengaluru accounted for the bulk of the released slots, according to sources familiar with the data.
During the winter schedule for 2025-26, IndiGo was authorized to operate 15,014 flights per week, roughly 2,144 flights per day. The 10% reduction brings this down to about 1,930 domestic flights daily, a figure that marks a significant recalibration from the airline’s usual cadence and from its summer schedule, which averaged around 2,022 flights per day.
In a bid to ensure a smooth transition, the civil aviation ministry on January 22, 2026 asked other airlines to submit requests to operate flights on the slots vacated by IndiGo. IndiGo has already submitted a list of 717 slots to the ministry for reassignment, underscoring the ongoing efforts to redistribute capacity and maintain reliability for travelers.
