DGCA slaps Rs 22.2 crore fine on IndiGo over flight disruptions in December

India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has imposed a hefty penalty of Rs 22.2 crore on IndiGo after a probe found serious lapses behind the airline’s massive flight disruptions in December, which left over three lakh passengers stranded across the country.

The penalty comes more than a month after the DGCA constituted a four-member committee to investigate widespread operational disruptions between December 3 and 5. During the period, IndiGo cancelled 2,507 flights and delayed 1,852 others, triggering chaos at major airports nationwide.

IndiGo had earlier attributed the disruptions to a “multitude of unforeseen operational challenges”, citing minor technical glitches, winter schedule changes, congestion, and adverse weather conditions.

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What the DGCA Found

In a statement issued on Saturday, the DGCA said the committee carried out a comprehensive review of the circumstances leading to the disruption. The panel examined IndiGo’s network planning, crew rostering practices, and the software systems used to manage operations.

According to the regulator, the inquiry revealed that the disruptions were largely caused by over-optimisation of operations, inadequate regulatory preparedness, deficiencies in system software support, and shortcomings in the airline’s management structure and operational control.

Failures in Planning and Oversight

The committee observed that IndiGo’s management failed to adequately identify planning gaps, maintain sufficient operational buffers, and properly implement revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) provisions. These lapses resulted in large-scale delays and cancellations, severely inconveniencing passengers.

It further noted that the airline’s overriding focus on maximising utilisation of crew, aircraft, and network resources significantly reduced roster buffer margins, leaving little room to absorb disruptions.

The DGCA’s action sends a strong signal to airlines on the importance of robust planning, compliance, and passenger welfare. As air travel demand continues to rise, the regulator has underlined that operational efficiency cannot come at the cost of safety, preparedness, and customer convenience.