Air India plans to operate around 275 additional flights this month after the government ordered a 10% capacity cut for IndiGo, aiming to rebalance domestic air routes during the peak travel season. The move comes amid widespread disruptions caused by IndiGo’s operational challenges, which left thousands of passengers stranded across major airports.
The Tata Group-owned airline has also sought clarity from the aviation ministry on how long the curbs on IndiGo will continue. This visibility is crucial for Air India to plan aircraft deployment and manage capacity efficiently while responding to the sudden demand created by IndiGo’s reduced operations.
According to senior government officials, IndiGo operates nearly 1,900 routes, with at least 10% currently being cut. Authorities are considering reallocating some of these routes to Air India, Air India Express, and Akasa Air to prevent passenger inconvenience and reduce excessive dependence on a single dominant airline.
Sources said Air India is deploying spare capacity within its existing system to add flights on routes most affected by IndiGo’s cuts. Wherever feasible, the airline is also using widebody Boeing 777 aircraft on high-demand sectors such as Delhi–Mumbai to maximise seat availability during the disruption.
Other carriers are also stepping in to tap rising demand. SpiceJet has announced plans to add up to 100 additional daily flights in its winter schedule, subject to regulatory approvals, citing strong passenger demand as IndiGo scales back operations. Aircraft occupancy levels across competing airlines have risen sharply.
IndiGo, which controls nearly two-thirds of India’s domestic market, continues to operate over 2,050 flights daily under a revised schedule. The airline faced a severe operational breakdown following new pilot test rules, with on-time performance dropping to single digits. Investigations are ongoing, as the government strengthens grievance redressal systems to support affected passengers.
