'Committed to take full cognizance', says IndiGo as DGCA slaps Rs 22.2 crore penalty for December flight disruptions

The penalties rank among the highest imposed by the regulator for operational disruptions. In addition, the DGCA had earlier curtailed IndiGo’s winter schedule by 10 per cent following the incident.

• DGCA fines IndiGo Rs 22.2 crore for flight disruptions and FDTL non-compliance
• IndiGo must provide Rs 50 crore bank guarantee tied to verified systemic reforms
• Warnings issued to IndiGo leadership for operational and planning failures

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InterGlobe Aviation Limited on Saturday said its board and management are examining the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) orders related to the large-scale operational disruptions faced by IndiGo in December last year and assured stakeholders that corrective steps will follow.

In a message issued by the Chairman and Members of the Board of Directors, the company acknowledged receipt of the aviation regulator’s orders concerning what it described as a “major operational disruption” that impacted the airline’s services in early December 2025. The board said it was conscious of the seriousness of the findings and reiterated its intent to respond in a structured 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 cognizance of the orders and will, in a thoughtful and timely manner, take appropriate measures,” the message said.

The airline also underlined that a comprehensive internal exercise has been underway since the disruption. According to the statement, the review is focused on assessing the strength and resilience of IndiGo’s internal processes, with the aim of ensuring that the carrier emerges stronger from the episode. The board referred to IndiGo’s “otherwise pristine record of 19+ years of operations” while noting that lessons were being drawn from the events.

The statement added that IndiGo remains focused on its broader role in India’s aviation growth. “IndiGo remains committed to steadfastly serving the needs of India and her people, and play a humble role in ensuring that our country emerges as a Global aviation major by 2030,” it said.

Earlier, the DGCA imposed penalties totalling Rs 22.20 crore on IndiGo following an inquiry into widespread flight disruptions between December 3 and 5, 2025. During this period, the airline cancelled 2,507 flights and delayed another 1,852, affecting over three lakh passengers across the country. The probe was ordered by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

A four-member committee set up by the regulator examined areas such as operational planning, crew rostering, management oversight and software systems. The committee concluded that the disruptions stemmed from excessive operational optimisation, lack of regulatory preparedness, weaknesses in system software support, and gaps in management structure and operational control.

It also found that the airline did not maintain sufficient operational buffers and failed to effectively implement revised Flight Duty Time Limitation provisions, leading to cascading delays and cancellations.