Directorate General of Civil Aviation Fines IndiGo ₹22.2 Crore, Takes Action Against Senior Management Over December Disruptions

VoM News Desk | January 17, 2026 | 09:57 PM IST | Breaking News, India | Follow on Google News

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Fines IndiGo ₹22.2 Crore, Takes Action Against Senior Management Over December Disruptions

India’s civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has imposed a penalty of ₹22.20 crore on IndiGo and initiated strict enforcement action against its senior leadership after an inquiry found serious planning, operational and regulatory failures behind the airline’s massive flight disruptions in December 2025.

The disruptions, which unfolded between December 3 and 5, saw IndiGo cancel 2,507 flights, while another 1,852 services were delayed. More than three lakh passengers were left stranded at airports across the country, triggering widespread criticism and regulatory scrutiny.

InterGlobe Aviation Ltd, IndiGo’s parent company, confirmed that its board of directors and senior management have received the DGCA’s orders. In a statement, the company said it would take “appropriate measures” to address the regulator’s findings.

“We would like to inform all our stakeholders, particularly our valued customers, that the board and management of IndiGo are committed to taking full cognisance of the orders and will respond in a thoughtful and timely manner,” the statement said.

The airline added that it has already begun a comprehensive review of its internal systems and processes following the disruption, with the aim of strengthening operational resilience after nearly 19 years of largely disruption-free operations.

What Went Wrong

A four-member inquiry committee constituted by the DGCA on the directions of the Ministry of Civil Aviation identified over-optimisation of operations as the core issue. The panel pointed to inadequate regulatory preparedness, weak software systems, and lapses in management oversight as contributing factors.

According to the report, IndiGo failed to maintain sufficient operational buffers and did not effectively implement the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms. Crew rosters were designed to maximise utilisation, relying heavily on dead-heading, tail swaps and extended duty hours, which left little margin for recovery and weakened operational stability.

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Action Against Top Executives

The DGCA issued a formal caution to IndiGo’s CEO for inadequate overall oversight and crisis management. A warning was also issued to the airline’s accountable manager and chief operating officer for failing to assess the impact of the winter 2025 schedule and the revised FDTL norms.

The regulator directed that the senior vice president heading the Operations Control Centre be relieved of current operational responsibilities and barred from holding any accountable position. Warnings were also issued to the deputy head of flight operations, the assistant vice president of crew resource planning, and the director of flight operations for deficiencies in supervision, workforce planning and roster management.

IndiGo has been instructed to take action against other personnel identified internally and submit a detailed compliance report to the DGCA.

Breakdown of the Penalty

Of the total ₹22.20 crore penalty, ₹1.80 crore was imposed as one-time fines for six separate violations of Civil Aviation Requirements, including failure to comply with FDTL norms, poor operational control and inadequate management oversight.

An additional ₹20.40 crore fine was levied for continued non-compliance with the revised FDTL provisions over 68 days, from December 5, 2025, to February 10, 2026. This was calculated at ₹30 lakh per day.

₹50-Crore Bank Guarantee Ordered

In a significant move aimed at long-term correction, the DGCA has directed IndiGo to pledge a ₹50-crore bank guarantee under the newly introduced IndiGo Systemic Reform Assurance Scheme (ISRAS).

The release of the guarantee will be phased and linked to DGCA-verified reforms across four key areas: leadership and governance, workforce planning and fatigue-risk management, digital systems and operational resilience, and sustained board-level oversight. Each phase will be independently audited by the regulator before any funds are released.

Passenger Relief and Regulator’s Response

The DGCA acknowledged that IndiGo restored operations swiftly after the disruption. In addition to refunds and statutory compensation, the airline issued a ‘Gesture of Care’ voucher worth ₹10,000, valid for 12 months, to passengers whose flights were cancelled or delayed by more than three hours during the affected period.

Separately, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has ordered an internal inquiry within the DGCA to identify systemic gaps and improve regulatory oversight.

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DGCA’s Message

Reiterating that safety and compliance remain non-negotiable, the DGCA said the enforcement measures are intended to strengthen operational resilience, protect passenger interests and safeguard the welfare of pilots, crew and operational staff across India’s civil aviation ecosystem.

The action marks one of the most stringent regulatory responses in recent years, underlining the watchdog’s intent to hold airlines accountable for large-scale disruptions.

VoM News Desk

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