IndiGo Faces Heavy Penalty for December Flight Chaos: What You Need to Know

IndiGo has been hit with a ₹22.20 crore penalty by the DGCA following extensive flight cancellations that left many passengers stranded. The airline's failure to adapt to new pilot duty regulations was a key factor in these disruptions. In addition to the fine, IndiGo must provide a ₹50 crore bank guarantee to ensure compliance with aviation regulations. A committee has been formed to investigate the circumstances surrounding these operational failures. Read on to discover the full implications of this situation for IndiGo and its passengers.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 17, 2026, 21:51 IST

IndiGo's Flight Disruptions Lead to Major Penalty

Mumbai: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has levied a hefty fine of ₹22.20 crore on IndiGo due to significant flight cancellations that occurred last month. The regulator has also issued serious warnings to the airline's CEO, Pieter Elbers, along with two other senior officials.

In addition to the fine, the DGCA has mandated that IndiGo secure a bank guarantee of ₹50 crore to ensure adherence to its regulations and to facilitate long-term improvements.

In early December, IndiGo faced widespread flight cancellations, stranding numerous passengers nationwide. The airline's inability to effectively implement new pilot duty regulations was cited as a primary reason for the disruptions.

In response to the extensive operational issues, the DGCA established a four-member committee led by Joint Director General Sanjay K Brahmane to conduct a thorough investigation into the factors that contributed to these disruptions.

The committee's findings were submitted to the DGCA on December 27 of the previous year.