Lok Sabha Question No. 52 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-01-29
Subject: Flight Cancellations
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Km. Sudha R, Shri K C Venugopal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 52

(TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29th January 2026)

## FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS

## 52.    SHRI K C VENUGOPAL

## KM. SUDHA R

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:-

(a) the total number of flights cancelled by airlines operating in India during the month of December along with the details of the overall number of passengers affected, airlinewise;

(b) the key factors contributing to this crisis or other lapses identified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA);

(c) whether any penalties or fines have been imposed on such airlines by the DGCA for violations of passenger rights and safety norms and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  refund  the  passengers  for  exorbitant  fares charged  by  airlines  during  this  crisis  before  the  Ministry  of  Civil  Aviation  issued  a temporary cap on the fares and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the Government also proposes to bring in a permanent cap on the maximum fares that can be charged by airlines respective to the sectors so as to safeguard the rights of passengers and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a) : Total number of flights cancelled by airlines during the month of December 2025 and the number of passengers affected due to the cancellation, as submitted by the airlines is placed at Annexure. (b): The primary causes for the disruption were over-optimisation of operations, inadequate regulatory preparedness along with deficiencies in system software support and shortcomings in management structure and operational control on the part of M/s IndiGo. Additionally, during December 2025, a considerable number of flights were cancelled by all airlines, due to adverse weather related issues.;

(c): Details of actions taken by DGCA are as follows:

- i. DGCA  issued  caution  and  warning  to  senior  management  of  M/s  IndiGo  for deficiencies in oversight, planning and implementation of revised FDTL norms, directed removal of the concerned SVP from operational responsibilities, and instructed the airline to take further action and submit a compliance report.;

ii. A one-time financial penalty of Rs. 22.20 crore was imposed on M/s IndiGo Airlines under Rule 133A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937.; iii. Indigo has further been directed to furnish a bank guarantee of Rs. 50 crore in favour of DGCA to ensure compliance with directives and long-term systemic corrective measures.;

;

(d) & (e): With the repeal of the Air Corporation Act in March 1994, airfares have not been regulated by the Government; however, the Government maintains oversight and intervenes in exceptional circumstances to prevent opportunistic pricing. Airlines are permitted to fix fares as per market dynamics in accordance with Rule 135 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, with DGCA's Tariff Monitoring Unit monitoring fares on selected routes. Fares charged prior to the  Ministry's  Order  No.  01/2025  dated  06  December  2025  were  within  the  airlines' prescribed  tariffs,  and  passengers  charged  in  excess  of  the  capped  fares  after  its implementation are eligible for refunds. ******

## Annexure

## Details of flights cancelled and passenger's affected-December, 2025

| December 2025   | December 2025            | December 2025              |
|-----------------|--------------------------|----------------------------|
| Airlines        | No. of flights cancelled | No. of passengers affected |
| Alliance Air    | 63                       | 2463                       |
| Air India Group | 924                      | 43278                      |
| Akasa Air       | 39                       | 5673                       |
| Indigo          | 5689                     | 902384                     |
| Spice Jet       | 79                       | 11929                      |
| Fly91           | 8                        | 343                        |
| Indiaone Air    | 71                       | 408                        |
| Star Air        | 17                       | 386                        |
| Total           | 6890                     | 966864                     |