CCI orders probe into IndiGo’s December cancellations that hit nearly a million
CCI orders probe into IndiGo’s December cancellations that hit nearly a million
The antitrust watchdog launches an investigation into IndiGo after December cancellations affected almost 1 million travelers and drew concerns over competition.
India’s antitrust watchdog has ordered an investigation into IndiGo after complaints accusing the country’s largest airline of antitrust violations. The move follows a string of December flight cancellations that left nearly a million passengers in limbo and stoked concerns about limited competition in the fast-growing aviation market.
IndiGo cancelled about 4,500 flights in the first weeks of December, and data from the DGCA shows the carrier’s market share slipping to 59.6% in December from 63.6% in November. The disruptions affected 982,000 passengers in December, with the airline paying about ₹22.74 crore in compensation. The overall cancellation rate for scheduled domestic carriers was 6.92% in December, while IndiGo’s rate stood at 9.65%.
In the wake of the disruptions, the DGCA fined IndiGo a record about $2.45 million (₹22 crore), issued warnings to senior executives and directed the airline to remove the head of its operations control from his duties. The regulator’s probe reportedly found several deficiencies at the airline after stricter pilot rest rules were implemented, and IndiGo has cited airspace closures tied to geopolitical tensions and airport congestion as contributing factors in some routes. Separately, IndiGo said it was curtailing some overseas services, including a new flight to Copenhagen, due to these constraints.
Officials warn that the CCI probe could lead to remedies or penalties if anti-competitive practices are proven. For travelers, the priority remains timely refunds and reliable replacements as regulators scrutinize how the airline manages capacity, pricing, and scheduling in a crowded market.
