DGCA slaps IndiGo with fine of Rs 22 crore for flight disruptions

EW DELHI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has slapped IndiGo with the steepest fine ever for an Indian carrier - Rs 22.2 crore - for its massive flight disruptions last month.

Additionally, the airline has to submit a bank guarantee of Rs 50 crore whose release is tied to implementing, among other things, the more humane flight duty norms for pilots aimed to enhancing flight safety. The regulator has warned senior airline officials, including the CEO & COO. The senior VP of operation control centre has to be removed from his position.

The senior VP of operation control centre has to be removed from his position and not given any accountable position in the future. The aviation ministry has ordered "an internal inquiry to identify and implement systemic improvements within DGCA".

The regulator late on Saturday night released key findings of the report by its four-member panel that probed IndiGo schedule collapse last month. The airline's unpreparedness and consequent inability to implement DGCA's new flight duty time limitation (FDTL) for pilots has cost it dear. Each day's exemption given for its Airbus A320 family pilots to ensure the airline was able to start resuming flights staring the second week of Dec is costing it Rs 30 lakh. This works out to Rs 20.4 crore for 68 days between Dec 5, 2025, & Feb 10, 2026.

The airline has been fined one-time Rs 30 lakh each on six more counts, which add up the fine to Rs 22.2 crore. The six failures include failure to comply with new FDTL rules, rest periods, "inadequate buffer margins in roster planning... failure to strike balance between commercial imperatives and crew members' ability to work effectively and failure of accountable management to ensure overall functioning, financing, and conduct of operations to DGCA standards."

Between Dec 3 and 5, 2,507 IndiGo flights were cancelled and 1,852 were delayed that left over 3 lakh passengers stranded at airports across the airline's network. Flights had resumed gradually over the next week or so.

What caused the crisis:

"Over-optimisation of operations, inadequate regulatory preparedness along with deficiencies in system software support and shortcomings in management structure & operational control on the IndiGo", have been identified as the "primary causes for the disruption" by the DGCA probe panel. "The airline's management failed to adequately identify planning deficiencies, maintain sufficient operational buffer, and effectively implement the revised FDTL provisions," the report says.

Action against IndiGo:

Apart from fines, the airline's CEO has been cautioned "for inadequate overall oversight of flight ops and crisis management." Accountable manager & COO, Isidre Porqueras, has been warned for "failure to assess impact of winter schedule 2025 and revised FDTL leading to widespread disruptions." Senior VP (ops control centre) has been asked to be relieved from the post and not be given any accountable position in future. Warnings have been issued to flight ops and crew resource planning "for operational, supervisory, manpower planning and roster management lapses."

Way ahead:

DGCA has asked IndiGo to take appropriate action against any other personnel identified through its inquiry and submit a compliance report regarding the same. Sources say IndiGo has been made aware of the lapses of its senior officials, especially COO, and now the airline is expected to take action against them. "The findings underscore the need for operational planning, and effective management oversight to ensure sustainable operations and passenger safety & convenience," report says.

IndiGo statement:

Confirming receipt of DGCA ruling, airline said it is "committed to taking full cognisance of the orders and will, in a thoughtful and timely manner, take appropriate measures... an in-depth review of the robustness and resilience of the internal processes at IndiGo (is) underway to ensure that the airline emerges stronger out of these events in its otherwise pristine record of 19 plus years of operations".