New Delhi/IBNS, Dec. 10 -- The central government has directed IndiGo to cut its flight operations by 10 percent amid a spate of cancellations that left thousands of passengers stranded across airports nationwide over the past week, according to media reports.

The move comes even as the airline claimed that its services had returned to normal.

A 10 percent reduction translates to more than 200 fewer flights a day, considering IndiGo operates around 2,200 flights daily.

Elbers admitted the airline had "let passengers down" and said systems had been stabilised. IndiGo operated only 700 flights on December 5. This climbed to 1,500 on December 6, 1,650 on December 7 and over 1,800 the next day, with the airline now flying to all 138 destin...