Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jan 18: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed the steepest penalty ever levied on an Indian airline, fining IndiGo Rs 22.2 crore for massive flight disruptions witnessed last month that left over three lakh passengers stranded across the country.
In addition to the fine, the aviation regulator has directed IndiGo to furnish a bank guarantee of Rs 50 crore, the release of which will be linked to the airline’s implementation of revised and more humane flight duty time limitation (FDTL) norms for pilots, aimed at enhancing flight safety. The DGCA has also issued warnings to senior airline officials, including the CEO and COO, and ordered the removal of the Senior Vice President of the Operations Control Centre from his post, barring him from holding any accountable position in the future.
The aviation ministry has meanwhile ordered an internal inquiry to identify and implement systemic improvements within the DGCA itself.
Late on Saturday night, the DGCA released key findings of a report by a four-member panel that investigated the schedule collapse at IndiGo in early December. The report pointed to the airline’s lack of preparedness and its failure to effectively implement the revised FDTL norms for pilots as the primary reason behind the crisis.
Each day of exemption granted to IndiGo for operating Airbus A320 family aircraft pilots under relaxed norms has attracted a penalty of Rs 30 lakh. For the 68-day period between December 5, 2025, and February 10, 2026, this alone amounts to Rs 20.4 crore. Additionally, the airline has been fined a one-time Rs 30 lakh on six separate counts, taking the total penalty to Rs 22.2 crore.
The violations include failure to comply with the new FDTL rules, inadequate rest periods for crew, insufficient buffer margins in roster planning, inability to balance commercial pressures with crew fatigue management, and lapses by accountable management in ensuring operations met DGCA standards.
Between December 3 and 5, IndiGo cancelled 2,507 flights and delayed 1,852 others, severely disrupting its network and leaving passengers stranded at airports nationwide. Services resumed gradually over the following week.
According to the DGCA panel, the disruption was caused by “over-optimisation of operations, inadequate regulatory preparedness, deficiencies in system software support, and shortcomings in management structure and operational control”. The report stated that IndiGo’s management failed to identify planning gaps, maintain sufficient operational buffers, and properly implement the revised FDTL provisions.
As part of the regulatory action, IndiGo’s CEO has been cautioned for inadequate oversight of flight operations and crisis management. The accountable manager and COO, Isidre Porqueras, has been warned for failing to assess the impact of the winter schedule of 2025 and the revised duty norms, which led to widespread disruptions. Warnings have also been issued to departments handling flight operations and crew resource planning for lapses in supervision, manpower planning and roster management.
The DGCA has directed IndiGo to take action against any other personnel found responsible during its internal inquiry and submit a compliance report. Sources said the airline has been formally apprised of lapses by senior officials, particularly the COO, and is now expected to initiate corrective measures.
“The findings underscore the need for robust operational planning and effective management oversight to ensure sustainable operations and passenger safety and convenience,” the report said.
Confirming receipt of the DGCA order, IndiGo said it was committed to taking full cognisance of the directions. The airline stated that an in-depth review of the robustness and resilience of its internal processes was underway to ensure it emerges stronger from the episode, adding that it remained focused on maintaining its otherwise “pristine record” of more than 19 years of operations.