India’s skies have been buzzing with a flurry of activity and uncertainty in recent days, as IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, works to steady its operations following a wave of nationwide flight cancellations and regulatory scrutiny. On December 12, 2025, IndiGo announced it would operate over 2,000 flights under a revised, scaled-down schedule, signaling a cautious return to normalcy after a week of turbulence that left thousands of travelers stranded and industry regulators on high alert.
According to The Economic Times, IndiGo’s operations have been on a steady path to stabilization, with the airline now connecting all 138 of its destinations and reporting normal on-time performance levels. Just a day earlier, on December 11, the airline managed to operate more than 1,950 flights, with only a handful of cancellations attributed to adverse weather. While this represents a significant improvement from the preceding week, the scars of operational chaos are still fresh for many passengers and industry observers.
The trouble began when IndiGo, caught off guard by newly tightened safety regulations, found itself forced to cancel thousands of flights nationwide. The disruption reached its peak on December 5, when a record 1,600 flights were scrapped in a single day, causing widespread confusion and frustration at airports across India. Since then, the airline has been scrambling to restore order, with cancellations gradually declining and operations inching back to pre-disruption levels by December 12.
But the challenges didn’t end with flight cancellations. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s civil aviation safety regulator, stepped in with a series of decisive measures to ensure that such disruptions would not spiral out of control. As reported by The Economic Times, on December 10, the DGCA deployed two oversight panel members directly to IndiGo’s Gurgaon headquarters. Their mandate: to closely monitor the airline’s cancellation status, crew deployment, unplanned staff leave, and the routes most severely affected by shortages.
In a further show of regulatory muscle, the DGCA summoned IndiGo’s Chief Executive, Pieter Elbers, to its office in New Delhi, demanding a comprehensive report with detailed data and updates on the recent operational breakdowns. Two officers—a senior statistics officer and a deputy director—were stationed at IndiGo’s corporate office to keep tabs on everything from domestic and international cancellations to refund processing, on-time performance, passenger compensation, and baggage return. The DGCA’s order, issued on December 10, left little room for ambiguity: IndiGo’s recovery would be watched closely, and any lapses would be documented and addressed.
To ensure that the airline’s recovery wasn’t just a paper exercise, senior DGCA officials launched immediate on-site inspections at 11 domestic airports. Each assigned officer was tasked with visiting their respective airport within two to three days and submitting a comprehensive report to the DGCA’s Director of Operations within 24 hours of their visit. This hands-on approach, according to The Economic Times, was designed to provide a real-time snapshot of IndiGo’s operational health and to reassure the flying public that safety and service reliability remained top priorities.
Meanwhile, IndiGo’s revised winter schedule, which covers the period from late October 2025 to March 2026, allows for 15,014 weekly flights on domestic routes. As Devdiscourse reported, the airline confirmed that it would operate more than 2,000 flights on December 12 alone, even as it continued to adjust its schedule in response to recent disruptions. Sources revealed that approximately 160 flights were cancelled at Delhi and Mumbai airports as part of these adjustments. The airline’s spokesperson emphasized that all airport partners had been notified to update terminal information, ensuring that regulatory compliance was maintained and passengers were kept in the loop.
Yet, the reasons behind the schedule changes remain somewhat murky. While IndiGo has not explicitly stated whether the adjustments are linked to a government-imposed 10% reduction in its winter schedule, the timing of the cancellations and the scale of the operational shake-up have fueled speculation within the industry. What is clear, however, is that IndiGo’s on-time performance across six major metro airports stood at a respectable 84.5% as of December 12, according to Devdiscourse. On that day, only four cancellations out of 1,950 flights were attributed to weather—an encouraging sign that the airline’s efforts to regain its footing are bearing fruit.
Delhi and Bengaluru were among the hardest-hit cities, with around 160 flights cancelled at their airports on December 12, as reported by The Financial Express. These cancellations, though disruptive for many travelers, were part of IndiGo’s broader strategy to stabilize operations and adapt to the new regulatory environment. The airline’s management has stressed that these operational adjustments are essential for long-term service reliability and compliance with tighter safety standards.
For passengers, the recent turmoil has served as a stark reminder of the fragility of airline operations in the face of sudden regulatory changes and resource constraints. Many found themselves scrambling for alternative flights or waiting anxiously for updates as IndiGo worked to clear its backlog and restore normal service. The airline’s commitment to compensating affected passengers, processing refunds efficiently, and maintaining transparent communication has been under close scrutiny, not just from regulators but from the traveling public as well.
Looking ahead, industry experts believe that IndiGo’s experience could serve as a cautionary tale for other carriers operating in India’s fast-growing aviation market. The episode has highlighted the importance of proactive planning, robust contingency measures, and close coordination with regulators, especially when safety requirements are evolving rapidly. As the DGCA’s ongoing oversight and inspections demonstrate, regulatory agencies are prepared to take swift action to protect consumer interests and uphold safety standards, even if it means temporarily grounding flights or imposing tough reporting requirements.
As of December 12, 2025, IndiGo appears to be turning a corner, with operations stabilizing and most destinations back online. The airline’s ability to weather this storm will depend not only on its internal management and resilience but also on its willingness to learn from recent missteps and to work collaboratively with regulators, airport partners, and passengers alike. For now, India’s largest airline is back in the air—but the lessons of the past week are unlikely to be forgotten anytime soon.
