New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a fine of Rs 22.2 crore on India’s largest airline, IndiGo, following an inquiry into the widespread flight disruptions that affected its operations from 3 to 5 December, 2025.
The penalty has come after a government-appointed committee found multiple violations of aviation regulations and deficiencies in the airline’s operational planning, crew management and oversight mechanisms, according to a statement by the aviation regulator Saturday.
According to the findings placed on record by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), the four-member panel concluded that the disruptions were the result of systemic issues rather than isolated operational failures. The panel found that IndiGo had over-optimised its flight schedules and crew utilisation without providing adequate operational buffers. Flight planning and rostering were carried out with limited margins, leaving the airline ill-prepared to absorb routine disruptions or regulatory changes.
The committee noted that IndiGo’s network planning and crew scheduling systems did not sufficiently account for the implementation of revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms. As a result, crew availability became constrained over a short period, leading to cascading cancellations and delays. The airline was also found to have gaps in internal coordination and crisis response mechanisms during the disruption window.
During the three days under review, IndiGo cancelled 2,507 flights and delayed 1,852 others. The disruptions affected more than three lakh passengers across domestic routes. The inquiry report recorded that several cancellations were carried out at short notice, aggravating passenger inconvenience and creating congestion at major airports.
The aviation watchdog also issued a caution to the CEO for inadequate overall oversight of flight operations and crisis management, and warnings to the Accountable Manager (COO), Senior Vice President (OCC), Deputy Head–Flight Operations, AVP–Crew Resource Planning, and Director–Flight Operations of InterGlobe Aviation, IndiGo’s parent company.
Additionally, the regulator directed the airline to furnish a Rs 50 crore bank guarantee under the IndiGo Systemic Reform Assurance Scheme, aimed at ensuring the implementation of corrective measures. The airline has also been instructed to provide refunds, statutory compensation and an additional “Gesture of Care” voucher of Rs 10,000 to eligible passengers affected by cancellations or long delays.
In its release, DGCA noted that an internal inquiry is being undertaken to identify and implement systemic improvements within the body, with the recommendation of MoCA.
The action follows a major operational crisis in early December when large numbers of passengers were stranded at airports across the country due to repeated cancellations and delays. Travellers reported missed connections, extended waits and uncertainty over rebookings and refunds. The disruptions occurred during a peak travel period, compounding the impact on passengers and airport operations nationwide.
Also read: IndiGo chaos forces DGCA to look inward—spotlight is back on the regulator