DGCA Fines IndiGo ₹22.2 Crore for December Flight Disruptions Affecting Over 3 Lakh Passengers

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a penalty of ₹22.2 crore on IndiGo following widespread flight disruptions in early December, the aviation regulator said in a statement on Saturday.

The action comes more than a month after the DGCA, on the directions of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), constituted a four-member committee to investigate large-scale cancellations and delays between December 3 and 5, 2025. During this period, IndiGo cancelled 2,507 flights and delayed 1,852 services, leaving over three lakh passengers stranded at airports across the country.

IndiGo had earlier attributed the disruptions to a combination of unforeseen operational challenges, including minor technical glitches, winter schedule changes, congestion at airports, and adverse weather conditions.

Findings of the Probe Committee

According to the DGCA, the committee carried out a detailed assessment of IndiGo’s network planning, crew rostering practices, and operational software systems. The investigation concluded that the disruptions were primarily caused by over-optimisation of operations, inadequate regulatory preparedness, shortcomings in system software support, and gaps in the airline’s management and operational oversight.

The regulator noted that IndiGo failed to maintain sufficient operational buffers and did not effectively implement the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms. The airline’s heavy focus on maximising utilisation of aircraft, crew, and network resources significantly reduced recovery margins.

“Crew rosters were designed to maximise duty periods, with increased dependence on dead-heading, tail swaps, extended duty patterns and minimal buffer for recovery,” the DGCA said, adding that these factors collectively led to widespread delays and cancellations.

Break-up of the Penalty

The total fine of ₹22.2 crore includes:

• A daily penalty of ₹30 lakh for 68 days of non-compliance

• One-time systemic penalties of ₹1.8 crore

In addition, IndiGo has been directed to furnish a bank guarantee of ₹50 crore as part of regulatory enforcement.

IndiGo’s Response

Responding to the DGCA’s order, IndiGo said it would take full cognisance of the findings and implement corrective measures. The airline stated that a comprehensive internal review of its systems and processes has been underway since the disruption.

“The Board and Management of IndiGo are committed to addressing the issues highlighted and taking appropriate steps in a timely manner. An in-depth review of the robustness and resilience of our internal processes is ongoing to ensure the airline emerges stronger,” the company said.

IndiGo added that it remains committed to serving passengers reliably and contributing to India’s goal of becoming a global aviation hub by 2030.