Most flight cancellations in 2012 happened due to technical problems. Data published by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) shows that, most number of flights are cancelled due to technical glitches. The next big reason for cancellations is commercial, followed by consequential cancellations. Weather related cancellations contribute to only about 11 percent of cancellations.

The data shows that of all the domestic flights delays, 40.6 percent were cancelled due to technical problems faced by the aircraft. Airport officials said that this shows how often aircraft suffer glitches which are big enough for the flight to be cancelled. "This reflects poorly on the maintenance of the aircraft by airlines," an official at Mumbai airport told TOI.

Commercial reasons also force airlines to cancel flights. About 23 percent flights were cancelled as they were not commercially viable for operations. Officials explained that low passenger loads or even unconducive airport facilities often lead to cancellations. "Due to low passenger loads on some sectors, airlines club two flights together. They often also pull out flights from certain sectors where the load is less. This is mostly to make the cost of operations feasible," said an official.

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