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IndiGo December Crisis, DGCA Report Reveals the Real Picture After Six Weeks
In December 2025, the country’s largest airline IndiGo was suddenly hit by a major operational crisis. Thousands of flight cancellations and long delays left passengers stranded at airports across the country. Now, the investigation report of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has brought the real reasons behind that turmoil into the open. According to the report, the crisis was not caused by a single technical fault, but was the result of long standing shortcomings in the airline’s operations, management, and crew planning, which surfaced under heavy pressure in December.
Over Optimisation of Operations Proved Costly
The DGCA investigation found that IndiGo had adopted a strategy of excessive operational optimisation. The airline was functioning on a model of more flights, maximum utilisation, and minimal buffers. Under this approach, there was neither sufficient backup to handle unexpected situations nor proper assessment of risks. When pressure on weather conditions, rosters, and the network increased during the first week of December, the entire system became unbalanced. As a result, within just a few days, 2,507 flights were cancelled and 1,852 flights were delayed for hours, causing severe inconvenience to more than three lakh passengers.
Crew Planning Failures and Violation of Rules Worsened the Situation
The report identified crew management as the weakest link in the crisis. According to the DGCA, IndiGo placed excessive emphasis on maximum utilisation of crew and aircraft. Duty hours were stretched to the limit, while dead heading, tail swaps, and long duty shifts became routine practices. This left pilots and cabin crew without adequate rest and recovery time. The revised Flight Duty Time Limitation rules were also not implemented properly. In addition, the airline’s software and operational systems were not strong enough to handle sudden spikes in pressure.
Strict DGCA Action, Senior Management Also Held Accountable
In this case, the DGCA has taken direct action not only against the company but also against its top management. IndiGo’s CEO has been issued a formal caution, while the COO, who is also the accountable manager, has received a warning. The Senior Vice President of the Operations Control Center has been directed to step down from current operational responsibilities. Other senior officials associated with flight operations and crew planning have also been warned. The DGCA clearly stated that a large airline of this scale is expected to demonstrate better planning, stronger systems, and greater accountability.
₹22.20 Crore Penalty, ₹50 Crore Bank Guarantee, and the Road Ahead
Following the investigation, the DGCA imposed a total penalty of ₹22.20 crore on IndiGo. This includes ₹1.80 crore for violations of various Civil Aviation Requirements and ₹20.40 crore for non compliance with revised FDTL rules over 68 days. In addition, the airline has been asked to furnish a ₹50 crore bank guarantee, which will remain with the DGCA until systemic improvements are implemented. The regulator has expressed hope that IndiGo will prioritise better planning, stronger digital systems, balanced crew management, and passenger convenience in the future. This crisis serves both as a warning and an opportunity for reform, with its real test set to unfold in the coming months.
