After Rs. 22.2 Crore Fine, IndiGo Assures DGCA of No Flight Cancellations

Advertisment


IndiGo Flight Cancellations have been closely monitored by the regulators after major disruptions in December, causing thousands of passengers to be left without any support in Indian airports. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation stepped in after doubts about poor pilot roster management and crew shortages were raised. 

As India’s largest airline by market share, IndiGo faced criticism for operational lapses that raised questions about reliability and passenger safety during peak travel periods.

IndiGo Gives Assurance on Pilot Strength


After a high-level review meeting, IndiGo informed the DGCA that flight operations would remain stable from February 10, 2026. The airline stated that it now has adequate pilots and cabin crew to handle its approved network. According to the regulator, “IndiGo assured operational stability and no flight cancellations after February 10, 2026,” signaling a course correction after weeks of uncertainty.

Advertisment

Regulatory Action and Financial Penalty


The DGCA had earlier imposed a Rs. 22.2 crore fine, equivalent to $2.45 million, on IndiGo for the disruptions. The regulator also issued official warnings to senior executives and directed the removal of the head of operations control from duties. 

These measures followed what the watchdog described as systemic failures in crew planning and compliance with DGCA aviation norms.

What Changed After the Warning


In its statement, the DGCA said stability was assured “based on the current approved network, above crew strength, and the removal of the two FDTL exemptions approved on December 6, 2025.” Aviation experts note that withdrawing these Flight Duty Time Limit exemptions forces stricter adherence to safety rules, reducing the risk of overworked pilots and last-minute cancellations.

Advertisment

Why This Matters for Flyers


Compared with December’s chaos, IndiGo’s latest assurance marks a significant shift toward accountability. The case demonstrates that control from the government can make the airline companies put planning and safety first. 

India’s increasing air travel demand has made consistent operations more important than quick expansion. The next few weeks will be the proving ground for IndiGo in terms of whether it can regain passenger trust and maintain the schedules without interruptions.