Indigo surrenders 717 flight slots at 16 airports nationwide:236 flights reduced in Mumbai, 150 slots less in Delhi; decision after severe operational difficulties

IndiGo has surrendered 717 of its slots at various domestic airports across India. This step has been taken after the decision by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which has ordered a cut in IndiGo’s winter schedule due to operational difficulties and delays caused by fog in winter, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has shared this data in Parliament. Mumbai and Delhi airports most affected IndiGo has given up its slots at 16 airports. According to the ministry report, the number of flights has decreased not only at major cities like Goa, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata, and Jaipur, but also at smaller airports like Srinagar, Patna, Ranchi, and Raipur. What is an airport slot? An airport slot is a kind of ‘time permission’. It allows an airline to take off or land an aircraft at an airport at a specific time. At busy airports, slots are in high demand and their number is limited. Fog and flight delays became major reasons DGCA had decided to cut IndiGo’s winter schedule, keeping in mind the dense fog that covers North India during winters. Fog often reduces visibility, leading to significant flight delays and last-minute cancellations. The regulator believes that reducing the schedule will improve the airline’s ‘On-Time Performance’ (OTP) and minimize inconvenience to passengers. Market Share and Challenges IndiGo holds over 60% of the Indian domestic market share. However, for some time now, the airline has been facing operational challenges. These include crew (staff) shortages, grounding of some aircraft due to supply chain issues, and weather-related disruptions. Amid these challenges, this strict step by the DGCA is being seen in the interest of passengers. Other airlines will benefit from vacant slots Flight reductions may reduce flight options for passengers on some routes during the peak winter season. However, the ministry has assured that capacity in the domestic sector is sufficient.
It is expected that the slots vacated by IndiGo will now be allocated to other airlines like Air India, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet, enabling them to expand their network.