New Delhi, March 30 -- Airlines in India will operate fewer flights this summer, after aviation authorities trimmed their schedule expansion plans and linked flight approvals to their present ground capacity, as against projected capacity, senior officials said on Sunday.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to approve around 22,600 flights a week during the summer schedule - effective from March 29 till October 31, a drop from 25,610 flights last year and 24,275 in 2024, said people aware of the plan.

"The government asked airlines not to overschedule flights based on aircraft that have not yet been delivered, a move that largely led to at least 12% reduction in flights in the upcoming summer schedule compared t...