The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a fine of ₹22.20 crore on IndiGo following widespread flight delays and cancellations in early December last year.
Between 3rd and 5th December, the airline canceled 2,507 flights and delayed 1,852 others, leaving over 300,000 passengers stranded across airports.
The penalty follows a detailed inquiry by a four-member DGCA committee tasked with reviewing the operational disruptions at IndiGo.
The ₹22.20 crore fine includes a one-time systemic penalty of ₹1.80 crore for multiple violations of Civil Aviation Requirements, along with a daily penalty of ₹30 lakh for 68 days—from 5th December to 10th February—totaling ₹20.40 crore.
The DGCA committee identified several key causes for the disruptions, including over-optimisation of operations, inadequate regulatory preparedness, and gaps in the airline’s management structure and operational control.
The inquiry noted that IndiGo’s management failed to identify planning deficiencies, maintain adequate operational buffers, and implement the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) provisions effectively.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation highlighted that the airline’s focus on maximizing the utilization of crew, aircraft, and network resources significantly reduced roster buffer margins, compromising roster integrity and overall operational resilience.
