Airlines offered Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Lucknow slots after Indigo flight disruptions
Airlines have been asked to submit their slot requests alongside details of their operational readiness.
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RAMAKRISHNA G
Airlines are being offered airport slots at key stations such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Lucknow following the government’s move to redistribute slots vacated after IndiGo’s recent flight cancellations.
Industry sources said select slots are also being made available on some Delhi–Mumbai services.
However, only one airline has expressed interest in a few slots. Most carriers are currently constrained by limited aircraft availability and crew resources.
On Thursday, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) held a meeting with representatives of airlines to outline the process and conditions for the redistribution of vacated slots.
As per an official document, airlines have been asked to submit their slot requests alongside details of their operational readiness.
The document stated that airlines seeking the slots will need to demonstrate the availability of aircraft, flight crew, cabin crew and other operational resources to ensure that the allocated slots are effectively utilised.
Besides, the ministry indicated that airlines should not cancel or curtail existing services merely to deploy the newly allotted slots.
The vacated slots will be examined for a final view by a ‘Slot Coordination Committee’ constituted by the MoCA.
The ministry has cautioned that any slots allocated but not utilised as per the stated plan could be withdrawn and reassigned.
“The goal is to ensure optimal use of airport infrastructure amid capacity constraints at major airports,” sources said.
The Centre has directed IndiGo to reduce its flight schedule by 10 per cent across sectors to stabilise operations and curb cancellations.
The airline has also been asked to avoid high-frequency routes and single-flight sectors, leading IndiGo to lower its capacity and revenue guidance for Q3 of FY26.
Operations are currently limited to between 1,860 and 1,900 domestic flights per day.
Published on January 23, 2026
