DGCA imposes ₹22.20 crore penalty on IndiGo over December 2025 flight disruptions
The Civil Aviation Ministry said on 17 January 2026 that DGCA imposed penalties totalling ₹22.20 crore on IndiGo and required a ₹50 crore bank guarantee after the airline's 3â5 December 2025 disruptions.
Summary
IndiGo's flight disruptions of 3â5 December 2025 led to 2,507 cancelled and 1,852 delayed flights, affecting over 3 lakh passengers, according to a four-member committee formed by DGCA. The committee blamed over-optimisation of operations, inadequate regulatory preparedness, software and management lapses, and the implementation of revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms. DGCA imposed six one-time penalties of ₹30 lakh each (₹1.80 crore) and ₹30 lakh a day for 68 days of continued non-compliance (₹20.40 crore), a total of ₹22.20 crore under Rule 133A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937. IndiGo must also furnish a ₹50 crore bank guarantee under the IndiGo Systemic Reform Assurance Scheme (ISRAS), released in phases as reforms are verified; the CEO was cautioned and the SVP (OCC) is to be relieved of operational duties.
Key facts
- Disruption period
- 3â5 December 2025
- Impact
- 2,507 flights cancelled, 1,852 delayed, over 3 lakh passengers affected
- Inquiry
- Four-member DGCA committee
- Penalty
- ₹1.80 crore (6 à ₹30 lakh) + ₹20.40 crore (68 days à ₹30 lakh) = ₹22.20 crore
- Legal basis
- Rule 133A, Aircraft Rules, 1937
- Bank guarantee
- ₹50 crore under IndiGo Systemic Reform Assurance Scheme (ISRAS)
Practice MCQs 5 questions
What total financial penalty did DGCA impose on IndiGo over its December 2025 flight disruptions?
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Correct answer: A â ₹22.20 crore
PIB (Civil Aviation): ₹1.80 crore in one-time penalties plus ₹20.40 crore for 68 days of continued non-compliance, a total of ₹22.20 crore. The ₹50 crore is a bank guarantee, not a penalty.
Under which scheme must IndiGo furnish a ₹50 crore bank guarantee, released in phases as reforms are verified?
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Correct answer: A â IndiGo Systemic Reform Assurance Scheme (ISRAS)
PIB (Civil Aviation): the ₹50 crore bank guarantee is under the IndiGo Systemic Reform Assurance Scheme (ISRAS).
How many IndiGo flights were cancelled during the disruptions of 3â5 December 2025?
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Correct answer: B â 2,507
PIB (Civil Aviation): 2,507 flights were cancelled and 1,852 delayed.
Consider the following statements about DGCA's action on IndiGo (January 2026): 1. DGCA formed a four-member committee to inquire into the disruptions. 2. The penalties were imposed under Rule 133A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937. 3. Over 30 lakh passengers were affected by the disruptions. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A â 1 and 2 only
PIB (Civil Aviation): statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: over 3 lakh (not 30 lakh) passengers were affected.
Which IndiGo official is to be relieved of operational duties following DGCA's findings on the December 2025 disruptions?
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Correct answer: D â The SVP (OCC)
PIB (Civil Aviation): the CEO was cautioned and the COO warned, while the SVP (OCC) is to be relieved of operational duties.