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DGCA Fines IndiGo ₹22.20 Crore, Warns Executives and Orders ₹50 Crore Reform-Linked Guarantee

The regulator tied the guarantee to DGCA-verified fixes after a probe traced the December chaos to over‑optimised schedules, weak rostering, software gaps, plus managerial lapses.

Overview

  • A four-member DGCA inquiry reported 2,507 cancellations and 1,852 delays between December 3 and 5, stranding over three lakh passengers across India.
  • The penalty totals ₹22.20 crore, including ₹1.8 crore in one-time CAR violations and ₹30 lakh per day for 68 days of continued non-compliance with revised FDTL rules.
  • CEO Pieter Elbers was cautioned, the COO warned, and the Operations Control Centre SVP was directed to be relieved of accountable responsibilities, with additional warnings issued to flight operations and crew-planning leaders.
  • IndiGo must provide a ₹50 crore bank guarantee under the IndiGo Systemic Reform Assurance Scheme, with phased release contingent on verified reforms in leadership, manpower and fatigue-risk management, digital resilience, and board oversight.
  • DGCA noted refunds and statutory compensation were processed and eligible passengers received a ₹10,000 voucher, while the regulator also began an internal review to strengthen its own oversight.