New Delhi: India’s summer flight schedule, which came into effect on Sunday, will see about 12% fewer domestic flights compared to last year, reflecting a cautious approach by aviation authorities—particularly in approving projections by IndiGo.
Officials said regulators were more conservative this time after previous concerns, asking IndiGo to scale its plans in line with actual aircraft additions and operational readiness, including sufficient pilot availability. “We wanted to avoid a repeat of last December’s situation, so we exercised extra caution,” a source familiar with the matter said.
As a result, most airlines have submitted reduced domestic schedules for the summer season.
Authorities indicated they were keen to ensure IndiGo does not overextend itself again, adding that approvals could be revised upward once the airline demonstrates the capacity to operate additional flights.
Last summer, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had cleared 25,610 weekly domestic flights—an increase of 5.5% from 24,275 flights in the previous year. This year’s approved schedule is expected to be lower by around 3,000 flights, or roughly 12%. IndiGo alone had planned 14,158 weekly domestic flights last summer.
However, officials noted that the bigger concern for the aviation sector remains rising operating costs rather than the number of approved flights. Factors such as increasing aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices and a weakening rupee are likely to impact ticket prices.
Higher fares could dampen passenger demand, leading airlines—even financially strong ones—to scale back operations. For weaker carriers, sustaining operations under rising costs may prove even more challenging. Additionally, the upcoming April revision of ATF prices is expected to bring a significant increase, adding further pressure on the industry.
