Domestic airlines cancelled 6,890 flights affecting over 9.66 lakh passengers in Dec: Govt data
New Delhi (PTI): As many as 6,890 flights were cancelled in December affecting more than 9.66 lakh passengers, with IndiGo accounting for more than 82 per cent of the total cancelled services, according to official data.
IndiGo faced massive operational disruptions in early December, following which the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) curtailed the airline's winter schedule by 10 per cent. The watchdog has imposed fines totalling Rs 22.20 crore, among other regulatory actions.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol on Thursday said 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 IndiGo.
"Additionally, during December 2025, a considerable number of flights were cancelled by all airlines, due to adverse weather related issues," the minister said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
In December, a total of 9,66,864 passengers were affected as 6,890 flights were cancelled, as per data provided along with the written reply.
IndiGo alone cancelled 5,689 flights impacting 9,02,384 passengers while Air India Group cancelled 924 services affecting 43,278 passengers last month.
The data showed that SpiceJet and Akasa Air cancelled 79 and 39 flights, impacting 11,929 and 5,673 passengers, respectively.
State-owned Alliance Air cancelled 63 flights affecting 2,463 passengers whereas IndiaOne Air cancelled 71 services impacting 408 passengers, according to the data.
Star Air and Fly91 cancelled 17 and 8 flights, affecting 386 and 343 passengers, respectively, in December.
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UDF will have huge win in Kerala, NDA won't open its account: Cong leader Satheesan
Kochi (PTI): Senior Congress leader V D Satheesan on Friday expressed confidence in a huge win by the UDF, claiming it will make a clean sweep in five districts, and brushed aside speculations that the NDA will open its account in Kerala.
Satheesan, speaking to reporters here a day after the conclusion of the Assembly polls, praised the performance of the UDF leaders and workers during the election, saying it was the best ever he has seen in the last 30 years.
He said that his claims of the UDF getting over 100 seats is not a mere statement, but based on the work the front has done during the last five years to bring back all those who had left it in 2005 and as a result, there was a huge wave in its favour in the state.
The leader of opposition in the state assembly, who contested from the Paravoor constituency, further said that the Congress-led front also had a major social backing from minorities and marginalised groups in the society.
Besides that, there was an anti-incumbency feeling among the people who were disappointed with the LDF rule, he claimed and said that the UDF provided them with a hope and an alternative which no other opposition had done in the past.
"All these factors will contribute to a huge win for the UDF and it would not be surprising if we make a clean sweep in Malappuram, Wayanad, Ernakulam, Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts. That is a total of 43 seats," he said.
According to him, the polling percentage increased because the UDF got people added to the electoral list.
He also brushed aside the LDF remarks about a woman or youth CM, saying that "they can make such statements now as they know they cannot win".
"Otherwise, why did they campaign with Pinarayi Vijayan as the main factor. Why did they say a third Pinarayi rule will come?" he asked.
He also claimed that the LDF's decision to spend government money on its political campaign, by putting up hoardings and carrying out social media programmes to sway voters, has also backfired as people realised that their taxes were being wasted like that.
Asked whether the NDA will open its account, especially in areas where the UDF claimed the BJP-led front had made a deal with the LDF, Satheesan replied in the negative.
He said that as of now he does not see any chance of the NDA opening its account in the state.
