The Crossbill News Desk
Following an investigation into widespread flight disruptions late last year, India’s aviation watchdog has taken strong enforcement action against IndiGo, citing serious lapses in planning, management and regulatory compliance.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a penalty of Rs 22.2 crore on the airline and directed it to furnish a Rs 50 crore bank guarantee linked to the implementation of systemic reforms.
In a statement, the DGCA said the disruptions between December 3 and 5, 2025, led to the cancellation of more than 2,500 flights and delays to over 1,800 others, impacting upwards of three lakh passengers nationwide.
A four-member committee constituted by the regulator found that the crisis was the result of multiple shortcomings, including “over-optimisation of operations, inadequate regulatory preparedness and deficiencies in system software support and management oversight,” as well as the airline’s failure to implement revised flight duty time limitation norms.
The inquiry also flagged weak crew roster planning, minimal recovery buffers and shortcomings in software systems.
The regulator has also moved against senior executives at the airline. Disciplinary action includes a caution to the chief executive officer, the removal of the senior vice president overseeing the operations control centre from operational responsibilities and from holding any accountable role, and action against the deputy head of flight operations, the assistant vice president for crew resource planning and the director of flight operations.
The monetary penalty comprises Rs 1.8 crore as one-time fines for several regulatory violations and Rs 20.4 crore for 68 days of continued non-compliance with the revised crew duty regulations.
“DGCA reiterates that safety and regulatory compliance remains paramount, and that all enforcement actions are directed towards strengthening systemic resilience and ensuring sustained operational safety in civil aviation,” the statement said.
Beyond the fine, IndiGo has been instructed to submit a Rs 50 crore bank guarantee under a reform assurance framework. The guarantee will be released in stages, subject to DGCA verification of improvements in areas such as governance, manpower planning, fatigue management, digital systems and board-level oversight.
The airline has also been asked to compensate passengers affected by the disruption. IndiGo has announced a Rs 10,000 goodwill travel voucher, valid for 12 months, for customers whose flights were cancelled or delayed by more than three hours during the period in question.
The DGCA note further said that, acting on directions from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the regulator has initiated an internal inquiry to assess its own response to the disruption and to plug institutional gaps.
“Further, on the directions of MoCA, an internal inquiry is being undertaken to identify and implement systemic improvements within the DGCA,” the note said.
The disruptions were triggered in December 2025 when IndiGo struggled to roster pilots in line with newly enforced flight duty time limitation rules.
The updated norms, notified in early 2024, tightened caps on duty hours and night operations and mandated longer, more predictable rest periods for pilots and crew. Airlines had been given a phased timeline of up to 18 months, with full compliance required by November 2025.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a penalty of Rs 22.2 crore on the airline and directed it to furnish a Rs 50 crore bank guarantee linked to the implementation of systemic reforms.
In a statement, the DGCA said the disruptions between December 3 and 5, 2025, led to the cancellation of more than 2,500 flights and delays to over 1,800 others, impacting upwards of three lakh passengers nationwide.
A four-member committee constituted by the regulator found that the crisis was the result of multiple shortcomings, including “over-optimisation of operations, inadequate regulatory preparedness and deficiencies in system software support and management oversight,” as well as the airline’s failure to implement revised flight duty time limitation norms.
The inquiry also flagged weak crew roster planning, minimal recovery buffers and shortcomings in software systems.
The regulator has also moved against senior executives at the airline. Disciplinary action includes a caution to the chief executive officer, the removal of the senior vice president overseeing the operations control centre from operational responsibilities and from holding any accountable role, and action against the deputy head of flight operations, the assistant vice president for crew resource planning and the director of flight operations.
The monetary penalty comprises Rs 1.8 crore as one-time fines for several regulatory violations and Rs 20.4 crore for 68 days of continued non-compliance with the revised crew duty regulations.
“DGCA reiterates that safety and regulatory compliance remains paramount, and that all enforcement actions are directed towards strengthening systemic resilience and ensuring sustained operational safety in civil aviation,” the statement said.
Press Note on Indigo Flight Disruptions- December 2025: Findings, Enforcement Action and Systemic Reforms @MoCA_GoI @Pib_MoCA pic.twitter.com/GDJLiQ4pxE
— DGCA (@DGCAIndia) January 17, 2026
Beyond the fine, IndiGo has been instructed to submit a Rs 50 crore bank guarantee under a reform assurance framework. The guarantee will be released in stages, subject to DGCA verification of improvements in areas such as governance, manpower planning, fatigue management, digital systems and board-level oversight.
The airline has also been asked to compensate passengers affected by the disruption. IndiGo has announced a Rs 10,000 goodwill travel voucher, valid for 12 months, for customers whose flights were cancelled or delayed by more than three hours during the period in question.
The DGCA note further said that, acting on directions from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the regulator has initiated an internal inquiry to assess its own response to the disruption and to plug institutional gaps.
“Further, on the directions of MoCA, an internal inquiry is being undertaken to identify and implement systemic improvements within the DGCA,” the note said.
The disruptions were triggered in December 2025 when IndiGo struggled to roster pilots in line with newly enforced flight duty time limitation rules.
The updated norms, notified in early 2024, tightened caps on duty hours and night operations and mandated longer, more predictable rest periods for pilots and crew. Airlines had been given a phased timeline of up to 18 months, with full compliance required by November 2025.
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