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DGCA Fines IndiGo ₹22.20 Crore, Orders ₹50 Crore Reform-Linked Bank Guarantee

The regulator will release the guarantee in phases only after certifying fixes across leadership, fatigue-risk and rostering, digital resilience, and board-level oversight.

Overview

  • An inquiry into the December 3–5, 2025 disruption found over-optimisation of schedules, weak software support, inadequate regulatory preparedness, and management and operational control lapses, including poor implementation of revised FDTL norms.
  • The penalty comprises ₹1.80 crore in one-time systemic fines and ₹20.40 crore for 68 days of continued non-compliance at ₹30 lakh per day between December 5, 2025 and February 10, 2026.
  • DGCA cautioned CEO Pieter Elbers, warned the accountable manager/COO, directed that the SVP of the Operations Control Centre be relieved of operational duties, and issued warnings to other flight operations and crew planning leaders, with IndiGo told to submit a compliance report.
  • Under the IndiGo Systemic Reform Assurance Scheme (ISRAS), the ₹50 crore bank guarantee’s release is tied to DGCA-verified reforms in governance, manpower planning and fatigue management, digital/operational resilience, and sustained board oversight.
  • The regulator said refunds have been processed and eligible passengers received ₹10,000 in ‘Gesture of Care’ vouchers, after 2,507 cancellations and 1,852 delays stranded over three lakh travelers.