Airlines in India will operate fewer flights this summer, following a decision by aviation authorities to trim their schedule expansion plans and link flight approvals to their current ground capacity.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to approve around 22,600 flights a week during the summer schedule, a drop from 25,610 flights last year and 24,275 in 2024.
The government asked airlines not to overschedule flights based on aircraft that have not yet been delivered, leading to at least a 12% reduction in flights in the upcoming summer schedule compared to last year.
A clutch of factors, including IndiGo's mismanagement, revamped Flight Duty Time Limitation (FTDL) rules, and disruptions to aviation wrought by the Iran War, are expected to have played a role in the deep cuts.
Airlines typically prepare schedules in advance, including flights planned on aircraft expected to be delivered in the coming months. However, this time, the government asked carriers to include only those flights that can be operated with aircraft already available.
Carriers can seek permission to operate more flights after new jets are delivered, authorities said.
