IndiGo, which operates as India’s biggest airline, will return its unused airport slots after the company decided to stop operations because of regulatory violations which occurred during the previous month.

The airline received a flight reduction order from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in December which required the airline to decrease its flight operations by 10% after the airline experienced its biggest operational disaster. The disruptions resulted in more than 4500 flight cancellations which left more than 300000 passengers stranded throughout the entire network.

IndiGo Chief Executive Officer Pieter Elbers told analysts that airlines must return reserved slots when they cannot perform their scheduled operations. “If airlines are not operating certain slots, it is their duty to hand back unutilised slots arising out of non-utilisation or planned consolidations,” he said.

Elbers added that the airline has clarity on its near-term operational plans. “We know what our plan is for the next two months. We are handing these slots back. The reallocation of these slots is the prerogative of the airports and will be evaluated further,” he said.

IndiGo currently operates around 2,200 domestic and international flights daily. The airline has assured the regulator that it will maintain operational stability without flight cancellations after February 10, when a temporary exemption from revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms expires.

On January 17, the DGCA released findings from a four-member inquiry committee that examined the causes behind IndiGo’s December disruptions. The panel cited over-optimisation of operations, inadequate regulatory preparedness, shortcomings in system software support, and weaknesses in management structure and operational control as the primary reasons for the crisis.

The report noted that IndiGo’s management failed to identify planning gaps, maintain adequate operational buffers, and effectively implement revised FDTL provisions, resulting in widespread delays and cancellations.

Following the findings, the DGCA directed IndiGo to relieve Senior Vice President (Operations Control Centre) Jason Herter of his operational responsibilities and barred him from holding any accountable position.

Responding to the orders, Elbers said the airline is reviewing the regulator’s directions. “We are in receipt of the DGCA’s orders and are evaluating them. The board and management are committed to taking full cognisance of these directives and will implement appropriate measures in a timely manner,” he said.

He added that IndiGo has initiated a broader internal review to strengthen operational processes and is engaging with the DGCA to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of stable operations.