DGCA Fines IndiGo ₹22 Crore Over December Flight Chaos
DGCA Fines IndiGo ₹22 Crore Over December Flight Chaos
Regulator slaps IndiGo with ₹22 crore penalty after December disruption, citing overworked crews and planning gaps that led to hundreds of cancellations.
A government inquiry into IndiGo’s December disruption has resulted in a ₹22 crore penalty from the DGCA. The four-member inquiry committee found that a combination of over-optimised crew and aircraft utilisation, with insufficient operational buffers, contributed to widespread delays and cancellations. The findings also noted that tighter Flight Duty Time Limitation provisions were introduced more than two years earlier but not adequately reflected in planning and rostering.
The probe highlighted failures to identify planning deficiencies, maintain adequate buffers, and effectively implement revised FDTL rules, which collectively led to significant operational weaknesses. The regulator warned six senior executives and removed the operations control centre head from active duties, while the chief executive Pieter Elbers received a formal caution for inadequate oversight.
Between December 3 and 5 last year, IndiGo experienced 2,507 flight cancellations and 1,852 delays, underscoring the systemic impact of the operational gaps. The bank guarantee of ₹50 crore was ordered to be deposited and would be refunded as the airline carries out necessary corrections in its operations.
IndiGo’s board stated it would take appropriate measures after a thorough review of internal processes, aiming to strengthen resilience and address the concerns raised by the regulator. The action signals a broader push to improve planning, staffing, and adherence to duty-time rules across the aviation sector.
