Summary of DGCA Penalties Against IndiGo Airlines
Here’s a breakdown of the penalties imposed by the DGCA on IndiGo Airlines due to flight disruptions and non-compliance:
Financial Penalties:
* Total Penalty: ₹20.40 crore
* Period of Non-Compliance: December 5, 2025 – February 10, 2026 (68 days)
* Daily Fine: ₹30 lakh per day
* Breakdown of ₹20.40 crore penalty (6 counts of ₹30 lakh each):
* Failure to establish/implement a scheme for compliance with flight time/duty/rest period limits.
* Inadequate buffer margins in roster planning.
* Failure of accountable management to ensure operations to DGCA standards (two counts).
* Improper delegation of operational control.
* failure of accountable management to ensure operations to DGCA standards.
Additional Measures:
* Bank Guarantee: indigo must pledge a ₹50 crore bank guarantee to the DGCA. This is part of the IndiGo Systemic reform Assurance Scheme (ISRAS).
* Phased Release of Bank guarantee: The ₹50 crore will be released in phases, contingent on DGCA-verified implementation of reforms in four key areas:
* Leadership & Governance: ₹10 crore (certification within 3 months)
* Manpower Planning, rostering & Fatigue Risk Management: ₹15 crore (initial & sustained compliance over 6 months)
* digital Systems & Operational Resilience: ₹15 crore (acceptance of upgrades within 9 months)
* Board-Level Oversight: ₹10 crore (sustained compliance over 6-15 months)
impact of Disruptions:
* Flights Cancelled: 2,507
* Flights Delayed: 1,852
* Passengers Affected: Over 3 lakh (during disruptions from December 3-5)
Personnel Warnings:
* CEO Pieter Elbers: Warning for inadequate oversight of flight operations and crisis management.
* COO Isidre Porqueras (Accountable Manager): Warning for failure to assess the impact of the winter schedule and revised FDTL CAR.
* Senior VP (OCC): Relieved of operational responsibilities and barred from accountable positions due to systemic planning failures.
* Deputy Head, Flight Operations & AVP, Crew Resource: Also received warnings.
Other actions:
* winter Schedule Curtailment: DGCA reduced IndiGo’s winter schedule flights by 10%.
Key Takeaway: The DGCA is taking strong action against IndiGo for significant flight disruptions and systemic failures, aiming to ensure future compliance and improve operational standards. This is considered one of the largest penalties ever imposed by the regulator on an Indian airline.