IndiGo Board Pledges Corrective Action Following DGCA's Hefty Penalty
The Board of Directors of InterGlobe Aviation Limited, which operates IndiGo Airlines, made a firm commitment on Saturday. They stated they will fully acknowledge the findings in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) orders. These orders relate to the airline's severe operational disruptions in December last year.
"We wish to inform all our stakeholders, especially our valued customers, that the Board and Management of IndiGo are committed to taking full cognizance of the orders," the Chairman and Board Members declared in a message. "We will take appropriate measures in a thoughtful and timely manner."
DGCA Imposes Massive ₹22.20 Crore Fine
The aviation regulator cracked down hard on IndiGo. The DGCA levied penalties totalling ₹22.20 crore. This action followed extensive flight disruptions in early December 2025. The chaos impacted over three lakh passengers across the country.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) ordered a thorough probe. This investigation came after IndiGo cancelled 2,507 flights. The airline also delayed another 1,852 flights between December 3 and 5, 2025.
Committee Identifies Key Failures
A four-member DGCA committee conducted a detailed review. They examined several critical areas of IndiGo's operations:
- Operational planning and crew scheduling
- Management supervision practices
- Software system capabilities and support
The panel pinpointed several root causes for the crisis. The main factors included:
- Excessive operational optimisation that left no room for error.
- Insufficient readiness for regulatory requirements.
- Significant gaps in software system support.
- Weaknesses in the management structure and operational control mechanisms.
The inquiry revealed another critical failure. IndiGo did not maintain sufficient operational buffers. The airline also failed to properly implement revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms. These shortcomings directly resulted in the widespread cancellations and delays.
From Disruption to National Crisis
What began as a single day of flight issues quickly escalated. Passengers started reporting problems from early December 2025. Services remained disrupted for at least ten days, creating a major travel crisis.
Social media platforms flooded with evidence of the chaos. Photos and videos showed stranded passengers rushing to find their luggage. Checked-in bags lay scattered across airport terminals in disarray.
The crisis even reached Parliament. Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari raised the issue in the Upper House. He blamed the situation on what he called a "monopoly" in the aviation sector.
IndiGo's Path Forward
The IndiGo board confirmed an ongoing assessment. Since the disruption, they have been conducting a detailed review of the strength and resilience of the airline's internal processes. The stated aim is clear: to ensure IndiGo emerges stronger from this episode.
This disruption marred an otherwise spotless 19-year operational record for the airline. The board's commitment now focuses on learning from these failures and implementing robust corrective measures to restore passenger confidence and operational reliability.
