India's aviation regulator has taken strong action against IndiGo airlines. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation imposed a hefty penalty of Rs 22.20 crore on the carrier. This penalty comes after massive flight disruptions in early December 2025. Those disruptions left more than three lakh passengers stranded at airports across the country.
Detailed Inquiry Reveals Massive Operational Failures
The DGCA conducted a detailed inquiry into IndiGo's operations. They examined the period between December 3 and December 5, 2025. During those three days, the airline cancelled 2,507 flights. Another 1,852 flights faced significant delays. The Ministry of Civil Aviation ordered this probe. A four-member committee from DGCA carried out the investigation.
Breakdown of the Financial Penalty
The regulator imposed two types of financial penalties on IndiGo. First, they levied a one-time penalty of Rs 1.80 crore. This penalty covered six specific instances of non-compliance with Civil Aviation Requirements. The violations included failure to implement Flight Duty Time Limitation norms properly. IndiGo also showed improper delegation of operational control. The airline demonstrated shortcomings in accountable management practices.
Second, DGCA imposed a much larger penalty of Rs 20.40 crore. This penalty addressed continued non-compliance over a 68-day period. The period ran from December 5, 2025 to February 10, 2026. The regulator calculated this penalty at a daily rate of Rs 30 lakh.
Root Causes of the Disruption Identified
The inquiry panel identified several primary causes for the massive disruption. They found IndiGo engaged in over-optimisation of its operations. The airline showed inadequate regulatory preparedness. The panel noted deficiencies in planning software and management oversight.
Specifically, IndiGo failed to maintain adequate operational buffers. The airline did not effectively implement revised Flight Duty Time Limitation norms. According to the investigation report, IndiGo adopted an aggressive strategy. This strategy aimed to maximise aircraft and crew utilisation. It resulted in minimal recovery margins during operations.
The airline relied excessively on practices like dead-heading, tail swaps, and extended duty periods. These practices ultimately compromised operational resilience. When disruptions occurred, the system lacked sufficient capacity to recover quickly.
DGCA Warns Top Management Personnel
The aviation regulator issued formal cautions to IndiGo's top executives. The CEO received a warning for inadequate oversight and poor crisis management. The Accountable Manager, who serves as Chief Operating Officer, also faced a warning. This warning addressed failure to assess the impact of the Winter Schedule 2025 and revised FDTL norms.
DGCA took further action against other senior personnel. They warned the Senior Vice President of Operations Control Centre. The regulator directed that this executive be relieved of current operational responsibilities. This person cannot hold any accountable position going forward.
Additional warnings went to the Deputy Head of Flight Operations. The Assistant Vice President of Crew Resource Planning received a warning too. The Director of Flight Operations also faced warnings. These warnings addressed lapses in manpower planning and roster management.
IndiGo must take action against other personnel identified through internal inquiry. The airline must submit a compliance report to DGCA regarding these actions.
Systemic Reforms and Financial Guarantees
Beyond the financial penalty, DGCA imposed additional requirements on IndiGo. The regulator directed the airline to furnish a Rs 50 crore bank guarantee. This guarantee falls under the newly created IndiGo Systemic Reform Assurance Scheme.
The bank guarantee will be released in phases. Release depends on DGCA-certified implementation of reforms across four key areas. These areas include leadership and governance improvements. Manpower planning and fatigue-risk management must be enhanced. Digital systems and operational resilience require upgrading. The airline must demonstrate sustained board-level oversight.
Passenger Relief Measures Acknowledged
DGCA acknowledged that IndiGo restored operations relatively quickly after the disruption. The airline complied with refund and compensation norms for affected passengers. Following Ministry of Civil Aviation directions, IndiGo issued special vouchers to passengers.
These 'Gesture of Care' vouchers carried a value of Rs 10,000 each. They featured a 12-month validity period. Passengers received these vouchers if their flights were cancelled or delayed by more than three hours during the disruption period.
DGCA Initiates Internal Review
Separately, the aviation regulator announced it has started an internal inquiry. This inquiry aims to identify systemic improvements within DGCA itself. The focus will be on enhancing oversight capabilities and preparedness measures. The regulator wants to prevent similar large-scale disruptions in the future.
The massive penalty against IndiGo represents one of the largest ever imposed by India's aviation regulator. It signals a tougher stance on airline compliance and passenger protection. The aviation industry will watch closely how IndiGo implements the required reforms and whether these measures prevent future operational meltdowns.
