NEW DELHI— India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has imposed a ₹22.20 crore penalty on IndiGo (6E) following widespread flight disruptions recorded in early December across the country. The enforcement action follows a regulatory probe that found serious deficiencies in preparedness, roster planning, and accountable management oversight.
The disruptions were most acutely felt at major hubs, including New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), where large-scale cancellations and delays compounded passenger congestion during the winter peak. The DGCA concluded that IndiGo failed to adequately prepare for the implementation of revised Flight Duty Time Limitation norms, triggering operational instability across its network.
IndiGo Fined by DGCA
The DGCA imposed a cumulative penalty of ₹20.40 crore for non-compliance over 68 days from December 5, 2025, to February 10, 2026. This translates to a ₹30 lakh fine for each day of violation under provisions of the Aircraft Rules, 1937.
According to the regulator, the airline failed to establish and implement an effective compliance framework for flight time, duty period, and rest limitations. Additional violations included inadequate buffer margins in crew rostering and lapses in operational control responsibilities.
Separate ₹30 lakh penalties were levied on multiple counts, including failure of accountable management to ensure operations aligned with DGCA standards and improper delegation of operational control contrary to approved procedures. IndiGo’s Chief Operating Officer, Isidre Porqueras, serves as the airline’s accountable manager.
Bank Guarantee Mandate
Beyond monetary penalties, the DGCA directed IndiGo to furnish a ₹50 crore bank guarantee to ensure compliance with regulatory directives and sustained corrective action. The guarantee forms part of a structured reform programme titled the IndiGo Systemic Reform Assurance Scheme.
The framework links phased release of the guarantee to DGCA-verified milestones. Leadership and governance reforms are tied to ₹10 crore upon certification within three months, while manpower planning, fatigue-risk management, and rostering reforms are linked to ₹15 crore over six months of sustained compliance.
A further ₹15 crore is associated with upgrades to digital systems and operational resilience within nine months. The remaining ₹10 crore depends on board-level oversight and continued adherence over a 9–15 month period, subject to independent verification by the regulator.
December disruption impact
The disruptions between December 3 and December 5 led to the cancellation of 2,507 flights and delays to 1,852 services nationwide. The DGCA estimated that more than 300,000 passengers were affected across multiple airports during the period.
Following the incident, the regulator temporarily curtailed IndiGo’s winter schedule by 10 percent. A four-member DGCA committee conducted a detailed investigation and submitted its findings late last month, prompting both financial penalties and individual enforcement actions.
Warnings were issued to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers for inadequate crisis management oversight and to senior operational executives for failures in systemic planning and timely implementation of revised duty norms. Several officials were directed to be relieved of operational responsibilities.
Bottom Line
The DGCA’s action underscores a stricter regulatory stance on operational resilience and crew fatigue compliance in India’s aviation sector.
For IndiGo, the penalties and mandated reforms signal a sustained period of regulatory oversight aimed at preventing a repeat of December’s disruptions.
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