NEW DELHI: Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a penalty of Rs 22.20 crore on IndiGo airlines for the large-scale flight disruptions in early December 2025 that left over three lakh passengers stranded at airports across the country.
The DGCA took the action after a detailed inquiry into the airline’s operations between December 3 and 5 last year, during which 2,507 flights were cancelled and 1,852 flights were delayed.
The probe was ordered by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and carried out by a four-member committee constituted by the DGCA.
DGCA imposed Rs 1.80 crore in one-time penalties for six instances of non-compliance with Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs), including failure to ensure effective implementation of FDTL norms, improper delegation of operational control, and shortcomings in accountable management.
In addition, the airline was fined Rs 20.40 crore for continued non-compliance over 68 days between December 5, 2025 and February 10, 2026, at a daily penalty of Rs 30 lakh.
The inquiry panel identified over-optimisation of operations, inadequate regulatory preparedness, and deficiencies in planning software and management oversight as the primary causes of the disruption. It found that IndiGo failed to maintain adequate operational buffers and did not effectively implement revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms.
According to the report, the airline adopted an aggressive strategy to maximise aircraft and crew utilisation, resulting in minimal recovery margins, excessive reliance on dead-heading, tail swaps and extended duty periods, which compromised operational resilience.
DGCA warns top management
DGCA has also issued caution to IndiGo’s CEO for inadequate oversight and crisis management and the Accountable Manager (COO) has been warned for failing to assess the impact of the Winter Schedule 2025 and revised FDTL norms.
The regulator has also warned the senior vice president (Operations Control Centre) and directed that he be relieved of current operational responsibilities, barring him from holding any accountable position.
Warnings have further been issued to the deputy head–flight operations, AVP–crew resource planning and director–flight operations for lapses in manpower planning and roster management.
IndiGo has been instructed to take action against other personnel identified through its internal inquiry and submit a compliance report to DGCA.
Beyond penalty, DGCA has directed IndiGo to furnish a Rs 50 crore bank guarantee under a newly instituted IndiGo Systemic Reform Assurance Scheme (ISRAS). The guarantee will be released in phases based on DGCA-certified implementation of reforms across four areas: leadership and governance, manpower planning and fatigue-risk management, digital systems and operational resilience, and sustained board-level oversight.
Passenger relief and DGCA reforms
DGCA acknowledged that IndiGo restored operations swiftly and complied with refund and compensation norms. On MoCA’s directions, the airline also issued a Rs 10,000 ‘Gesture of Care’ voucher with a 12-month validity to passengers affected by cancellations or delays exceeding three hours during the disruption period.
Separately, DGCA said an internal inquiry has been initiated within the regulator to identify systemic improvements in oversight and preparedness.
IndiGo responds
Responding to the DGCA’s order, IndiGo said its board and management were committed to taking corrective measures following the operational disruptions in early December 2025.
“We are in receipt of the orders of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of India in relation to the events which led to a major operational disruption of IndiGo's flights in early December, 2025,” the chairman and members of the board of directors of InterGlobe Aviation Limited said in a statement issued on January 17.
The airline said it was taking “full cognizance” of the regulator’s directions and would act in a “thoughtful and timely manner”.
“We would like to take this opportunity to inform all of our stakeholders, particularly our valued customers, that the Board and the Management of IndiGo are committed to taking full cognizance of the orders and will, in a thoughtful and timely manner, take appropriate measures,” the statement said.
IndiGo also said an in-depth review of its internal processes has been underway since the disruption. “An in-depth review of the robustness and resilience of the internal processes at IndiGo has been underway since the disruption to ensure that the airline emerges stronger out of these events in its otherwise pristine record of 19+ years of operations,” it said.
Reiterating its long-term outlook, the airline added, “IndiGo remains committed to steadfastly serving the needs of India and her people, and play a humble role in ensuring that our country emerges as a global aviation major by 2030.”