**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 1097 in Lok Sabha, concerning flight cancellations by Indigo Airline. The response, provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, details the number of cancellations, the reasons cited by the airline (primarily over optimisation, system deficiencies, management shortcomings and adverse weather during December 2025), and actions taken to address passenger hardship and ensure compliance. The question was answered on the 5th February 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Flight Cancellation Statistics:**
* Indigo cancelled 6936 flights in the last three months of 2025.
* 1,081,680 passengers were affected.
* **Reasons for Cancellations (Indigo, December 2025):**
* Over optimisation of operations.
* Inadequate regulatory preparedness.
* Deficiencies in system software support.
* Shortcomings in management structure and operational control.
* Adverse weather conditions.
* **Government Directives and Actions:**
* The airline was directed to stabilise operations.
* The airline was directed to mitigate passenger inconvenience and provide assistance.
* The airline was directed to ensure strict compliance with Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR).
* Passengers are to be provided refunds and compensation per DGCA regulations.
* Payments can be made in cash, bank transfer, or travel vouchers, subject to passenger consent.
* Regular monitoring, inspections, and audits are conducted for airline compliance.
* Airlines must adhere to compensation, refund, and facilitation norms.
* Enforcement action, including penalties, is taken for non-compliance.
* Grievance redressal is available through the AirSewa platform.
* Strengthened monitoring mechanisms are in place.
**Impact Analysis**
**Indigo Airline**
* **Impact:** Subject to directives to stabilise operations, mitigate inconvenience, ensure CAR compliance, and face potential penalties for non-compliance.
* **Action Required:** Implement measures to address the identified operational deficiencies, adhere strictly to compensation and refund norms, and cooperate with government monitoring and inspections.
**Passengers Affected by Cancellations**
* **Impact:** Experienced hardship due to flight cancellations.
* **Action Required:** Be aware of rights to compensation and refunds as per DGCA regulations, and utilize the AirSewa platform for grievance redressal if necessary.
**Ministry of Civil Aviation/DGCA**
* **Impact:** Responsible for monitoring airline compliance, enforcing regulations, and addressing passenger grievances.
* **Action Required:** Continue to conduct regular monitoring, inspections, and audits to ensure airline compliance, and strengthen monitoring mechanisms to deter arbitrary cancellations.
Key Entities Referenced
IndiGo Airline: Airline company whose flight cancellations are the subject of the parliamentary question.
Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), Section 3, Series M, Part IV: Regulations issued by the DGCA regarding refunds and compensation for flight cancellations.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The government ministry responsible for civil aviation matters, including addressing flight cancellations.
DGCA: The issuing authority of Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) regarding refunds and compensation.
AirSewa platform: A platform for grievance redressal related to airlines.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 1097
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 5th February 2026 )
FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS
1097. SHRI K RADHAKRISHNAN
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) the details of total number of flights cancelled by Indigo Airline and the number of
passengers affected during the last few months;
(b) the reasons cited by the airline for these cancellations and whether the Government
has sought a detailed explanation from the said airline and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has assessed the hardship caused to passengers, including
financial loss, lack of timely information, denial of accommodation or alternative
arrangements and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure strict
enforcement of passenger rights, adequate compensation and to prevent arbitrary flight
cancellations by airlines in the future?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a): A total of 6936 flights were cancelled by Indigo during the last three months
affecting 1081680 (one million eighty-one thousand six hundred eighty) passengers.
(b): The reasons for flight cancellation by IndiGo Airlines during December, 2025, were
over optimisation of operations, inadequate regulatory preparedness along with
deficiencies in system software support and shortcomings in management structure and
operational control. Additionally, during December 2025 a considerable number of
flights were cancelled due to adverse weather.
(c) & (d): The airline was directed to undertake necessary measures to stabilise
operations, mitigate passenger inconvenience and provide assistance to stranded
passengers at airports. Further, the airline was also directed to ensure that refunds and
compensation is paid strictly in accordance with the provisions of Civil Aviation
Requirements (CAR), Section 3, Series M, Part IV, issued by the DGCA, either in cash,
through bank transfer, or in the form of travel vouchers, subject to the consent of the
passenger.Regular monitoring, inspections and audits are carried out to ensure airline compliance.
Airlines are required to adhere strictly to compensation, refund and facilitation norms,
and enforcement action, including penalties, is taken in cases of non-compliance.
Further, grievance redressal through the AirSewa platform and strengthened monitoring
mechanisms are in place to deter arbitrary cancellations and safeguard passenger
interests
******