In a significant regulatory action, India's civil aviation authority, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has mandated the dismissal of a senior vice president at IndiGo, the country's largest airline operator. This directive was accompanied by formal warnings issued to six senior executives, including the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Isidre Porqueras Orea. The developments were disclosed in a submission made to the Delhi High Court on Thursday, 22 January 2026.
Regulatory Action and Court Proceedings
The DGCA's submission was presented in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought a judicial inquiry into the widespread flight chaos experienced by IndiGo in December 2025. This disruption led to mass cancellations, necessitated passenger compensations, and required additional ground support to assist stranded travelers. Representing the civil aviation ministry and DGCA, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma outlined the regulator's findings before a bench comprising Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia.
Key Findings from the DGCA Inquiry
Following a thorough investigation by a four-member committee, the DGCA identified several critical factors that contributed to the operational crisis. The primary causes included:
- Over-optimisation of operations, which strained the airline's resources beyond sustainable limits.
- Inadequate regulatory preparedness, highlighting gaps in compliance and oversight mechanisms.
- Deficiencies in system software support, impacting the efficiency and reliability of flight management.
- Shortcomings in management structure, affecting decision-making and crisis response capabilities.
Financial Penalties and Corrective Measures
In addition to the personnel actions, the DGCA has imposed a substantial penalty of ₹22.2 crore on IndiGo for the December 2025 incident. Furthermore, the regulator has required the airline to deposit ₹50 crore as bank guarantees. These funds are slated to be refunded incrementally as IndiGo implements the necessary corrections and improvements in its operational framework.
Impact of the Flight Disruptions
The scale of the operational breakdown was staggering. According to reports, between 3 and 5 December 2025, IndiGo recorded a total of 2,507 flight cancellations and 1,852 flight delays. This widespread disruption impacted more than 3 lakh passengers across various airports in India. The chaos was partly attributed to the airline's lack of preparedness for the central government's revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDLT) norms, which exacerbated scheduling and crew management issues.
Compensation and Passenger Concerns
As part of its response to the crisis, IndiGo offered ₹10,000 travel vouchers to passengers affected by the disruptions. However, concerns were raised regarding the expiration of these vouchers. The Delhi High Court has instructed IndiGo's legal counsel to provide clarification on the fate of vouchers that remain unused within the stipulated time frame. The court has also directed the airline to file an affidavit detailing its plans and assurances.
IndiGo's Response and Financial Performance
During the quarterly earnings call held on 22 January 2026, IndiGo's CEO, Pieter Elbers, addressed the operational challenges. He expressed deep regret for the inconvenience caused to customers and extended heartfelt gratitude for their patience and trust. Elbers emphasized that the company possesses strong fundamentals and, supported by an expanding fleet and growing domestic and international network, remains committed to delivering reliability, operational excellence, and an enhanced customer experience.
Despite these assurances, IndiGo's financial results for the October to December quarter of the 2025-26 fiscal year revealed a sharp decline. The airline reported a consolidated profit of ₹549.8 crore, marking a 77.55% year-on-year drop from ₹2,448.8 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year, as per its latest filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).
Next Steps and Legal Timeline
The Delhi High Court has scheduled the next hearing in this matter for 25 February 2026. This proceeding will likely focus on the implementation of corrective measures, the status of passenger compensations, and the overall adherence to regulatory directives aimed at preventing future disruptions.
