India’s aviation regulator has imposed a penalty of Rs 22.20 crore on IndiGo after widespread flight delays and cancellations disrupted travel for over 300,000 passengers in December 2025.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) faulted the airline’s overworked crew rosters, weak operational planning, and inadequate preparedness for new duty time norms.
Between December 3–5, IndiGo cancelled nearly 2,500 flights and delayed another 2,000, crippling operations across major hubs including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Kolkata. The DGCA highlighted systemic flaws in crew scheduling, reliance on extended duty patterns, and lack of buffer planning.
As part of corrective measures, IndiGo’s CEO was cautioned, senior executives were warned, and the airline was directed to furnish a ₹50 crore bank guarantee under the “Systemic Reform Assurance Scheme.” The regulator also scrutinised pending passenger compensation claims.
IndiGo’s board has acknowledged the findings and promised corrective steps to restore operational resilience and passenger trust.
