SRINAGAR: IndiGo Airlines has paid a one-time penalty of Rs 22.2 crore after large-scale flight cancellations and disruptions in December 2025, with the aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, citing serious operational and managerial lapses, the Government of India informed the Lok Sabha.
Replying to an unstarred question, the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, said the penalty was imposed under Rule 133A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, for non-compliance with regulatory directions following widespread disruptions between December 3 and December 5, 2025.
In addition to the financial penalty, IndiGo has been directed to furnish a bank guarantee of Rs 50 crore in favour of the DGCA to ensure long-term compliance with operational norms and corrective measures.
The government attributed the disruptions primarily to over-optimisation of operations, inadequate regulatory preparedness, deficiencies in system software support, and shortcomings in management structure and operational control on the part of the airline. Adverse weather conditions also contributed to flight cancellations during the period, affecting all carriers, the minister said.
According to official data, a total of 6,890 flights were cancelled in December 2025.
The DGCA has also issued cautions and warnings to IndiGo’s senior management for deficiencies in oversight, planning and implementation of revised Flight Duty Time Limitation norms. The regulator directed the removal of the concerned Senior Vice President from operational responsibilities and instructed the airline to submit a compliance report.
The ministry said IndiGo has assured the regulator that it will have sufficient pilots and crew to meet operational requirements without seeking exemptions after February 10, 2026. The airline expects to maintain operational stability and avoid further cancellations once temporary relaxations expire.
The government added that the regulatory action was taken to safeguard passenger interests and ensure adherence to safety and operational standards in the civil aviation sector.
