India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has fined IndiGo Airlines Rs222 million (about Dh8.9 million) for large-scale flight disruptions that occurred between December 3 and 5, 2025. The regulator has also ordered the airline to provide a Rs500 million bank guarantee to ensure long-term operational reforms and regulatory compliance. More than 300,000 passengers affected During the three-day period, IndiGo cancelled more than 2,500 flights and delayed nearly 1,900 others, affecting travel plans for over 300,000 passengers across India. Airports were left overcrowded and thousands of travellers experienced extended waiting times. Following public complaints and growing disruption, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) instructed the DGCA to conduct a formal investigation into the airline’s operations. Investigation finds systemic operational failures A four-member DGCA committee reviewed IndiGo’s flight schedules, crew management practices, and operational control systems, and interviewed senior airline officials. The inquiry concluded that the disruptions were not caused by weather alone, but by deeper systemic weaknesses within the airline. According to the report, IndiGo had stretched its operational resources in an effort to maximise efficiency. Dense flight schedules, limited flexibility in crew rosters, and insufficient operational buffers reduced the airline’s ability to recover when disruptions began. […]