IndiGo Hit With Rs 22 Crore Fine by DGCA Over Massive Flight Cancellations; Cites Overworked Rosters, Poor Planning - Airline Responds

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced on Saturday that it has imposed a Rs 22.2 crore fine on the airline for widespread flight disruptions in December. The fine follows the formation

of a four-member committee by the airline regulator over a month ago to investigate the widespread disruptions from December 3-5. During this period, IndiGo experienced 2,507 flight cancellations and 1,852 delays.“Following the large-scale delays and cancellations reported by M/s IndiGo during the period from 3rd to 5th December 2025—resulting in the cancellation of 2,507 flights and delays of 1,852 flights and causing inconvenience to over three lakh passengers stranded at various airports, on the directions of MoCA, a four-member Committee was constituted by DGCA to undertake a comprehensive review and assessment of the circumstances leading to the operational disruptions of M/s IndiGo,” a statement of the agency said.Also Read: ‘Why Is He Hiding?’ Chaos Erupts On IndiGo Thailand-bound Flight After Pilot Declines Takeoff | WatchThe DGCA stated that the committee carried out a detailed inquiry, thoroughly examining IndiGo’s network planning, rostering, and software systems used during the period.According to the committee, the main causes of the disruption were over-optimisation of operations, insufficient regulatory preparedness, deficiencies in system software support, and shortcomings in the airline’s management structure and operational control.The DGCA’s Rs 22.2 crore fine includes a daily penalty of Rs 30 lakh for 68 days of non-compliance, along with a one-time systemic penalty of Rs 1.8 crore. Additionally, IndiGo has been required to provide a bank guarantee of Rs 50 crore.

IndiGo issues a response

In response to DGCA's order, IndiGo said its board and management were committed to taking corrective measures following the operational disruptions in early December 2025. “We are in receipt of the orders of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of India in relation to the events which led to a major operational disruption of IndiGo's flights in early December, 2025,” the chairman and members of the board of directors of InterGlobe Aviation Limited said in a statement issued on January 17. The airline said it was taking “full cognisance” of the regulator’s directions and would act in a “thoughtful and timely manner”."We would like to take this opportunity to inform all of our stakeholders, particularly our valued customers, that the Board and the Management of IndiGo are committed to taking full cognisance of the orders and will, in a thoughtful and timely manner, take appropriate measures,” the statement said.Notably, between December 3 and December 5, 2025, several IndiGo flights were either cancelled or delayed for long hours, leading to severe inconvenience to the passengers as they were stranded at the Airport for hours. Although IndiGo initially hinted for relief package for those passengers, it released a structured framework, branded as “Gesture of Care”, to address the inconvenience caused by these passengers. This has been positioned as a goodwill gesture which is beyond the standard statutory compensation and applicable to the passengers of a specific set of disrupted flights only during that period.According to GoC Scheme

• 1. A voucher worth Rs 10,000 was extended to every eligible passenger
• 2 separate vouchers, each valued at Rs 5,000
• This applies to each passenger separately and not as per the booking reference no. For example, a booking reference number or PNR number having 2 passengers will be entitled to receive total vouchers worth Rs 20,000 (Rs 10,000 x 2 passengers).
• These vouchers are for single-use and non-transferable and will be issued to the name of the eligible passengers only.