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NEW DELHI: Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a punishment of Rs 22.20 crore connected IndiGo airlines for the large-scale formation disruptions successful aboriginal December 2025 that near implicit 3 lakh passengers stranded astatine airports crossed the country.The DGCA took the enactment aft a elaborate enquiry into the airline’s operations betwixt December 3 and 5 past year, during which 2,507 flights were cancelled and 1,852 flights were delayed. The probe was ordered by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and carried retired by a four-member committee constituted by the DGCA.DGCA imposed Rs 1.80 crore successful one-time penalties for six instances of non-compliance with Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs), including nonaccomplishment to guarantee effectual implementation of FDTL norms, improper delegation of operational control, and shortcomings successful accountable management.In addition, the hose was fined Rs 20.40 crore for continued non-compliance implicit 68 days betwixt December 5, 2025 and February 10, 2026, astatine a regular punishment of Rs 30 lakh.The enquiry sheet identified over-optimisation of operations, inadequate regulatory preparedness, and deficiencies successful readying bundle and absorption oversight arsenic the superior causes of the disruption. It recovered that IndiGo failed to support capable operational buffers and did not efficaciously instrumentality revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms.
According to the report, the hose adopted an assertive strategy to maximise craft and unit utilisation, resulting successful minimal betterment margins, excessive reliance connected dead-heading, process swaps and extended work periods, which compromised operational resilience.DGCA warns apical managementDGCA has besides issued caution to IndiGo’s CEO for inadequate oversight and situation absorption and the Accountable Manager (COO) has been warned for failing to measure the interaction of the Winter Schedule 2025 and revised FDTL norms.The regulator has besides warned the elder vice president (Operations Control Centre) and directed that helium beryllium relieved of existent operational responsibilities, barring him from holding immoderate accountable position. Warnings person further been issued to the lawman head–flight operations, AVP–crew assets readying and director–flight operations for lapses successful manpower readying and roster management.IndiGo has been instructed to instrumentality enactment against different unit identified done its interior enquiry and taxable a compliance study to DGCA.Beyond penalty, DGCA has directed IndiGo to furnish a Rs 50 crore slope warrant nether a recently instituted IndiGo Systemic Reform Assurance Scheme (ISRAS). The warrant volition beryllium released successful phases based connected DGCA-certified implementation of reforms crossed 4 areas: enactment and governance, manpower readying and fatigue-risk management, integer systems and operational resilience, and sustained board-level oversight.Passenger alleviation and DGCA reformsDGCA acknowledged that IndiGo restored operations swiftly and complied with refund and compensation norms. On MoCA’s directions, the hose besides issued a Rs 10,000 ‘Gesture of Care’ voucher with a 12-month validity to passengers affected by cancellations oregon delays exceeding 3 hours during the disruption period.Separately, DGCA said an interior enquiry has been initiated wrong the regulator to place systemic improvements successful oversight and preparedness.
