India’s aviation regulator has removed four flight inspectors responsible for monitoring safety and operational standards at IndiGo after finding serious lapses in their oversight. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) took the step following concerns that negligence contributed to the airline’s recent operational breakdown.
IndiGo, the country’s largest carrier, cancelled thousands of flights this month after struggling to meet strengthened safety norms, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded nationwide. Flight disruptions reached their highest point on December 5 but have gradually decreased. The airline announced on Tuesday that its services have now stabilised and operations have returned to normal levels.
To prevent further disruptions, the DGCA has stationed two dedicated teams at IndiGo’s Gurugram headquarters to scrutinise all aspects of the airline’s functioning. These oversight units are required to submit daily reports to the regulator by 6 pm, sources said.
The first team is examining operational fundamentals, including fleet size, pilot availability, crew utilisation hours, training schedules, split-duty patterns, unscheduled leave, standby crew strength, daily flight volumes, and sectors affected by crew shortages. It is also reviewing the airline’s average stage length and overall network deployment to assess operational robustness.
The second team is focused on the consequences of the crisis—tracking the status of refunds processed by both IndiGo and travel agents, assessing passenger compensation under Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), monitoring on-time performance, and overseeing baggage return and flight cancellation trends.
Government Orders 10% Curtailment of IndiGo Flights
As part of corrective measures, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed IndiGo to reduce its daily operations by 10 per cent. Given the airline operates approximately 2,200 flights per day, the mandate requires cutting more than 200 flights from the schedule.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said that passengers were subjected to “severe inconvenience” due to IndiGo’s poor handling of crew rosters, flight planning, and communication. Announcing the reduction order, he stated that scaling down operations would help stabilise the airline and significantly reduce cancellations. Despite the cut, IndiGo has been instructed to maintain connectivity to all its existing destinations.
The minister also emphasised that IndiGo must fully comply with government directives, including fare caps and passenger support measures, with no exceptions.
IndiGo Announces Rs 10,000 Vouchers for Heavily Affected Passengers
Amid mounting public outrage, IndiGo has offered compensation to travellers who suffered the worst impact during December 3–5, when the crisis was at its peak. The airline said these “severely impacted” customers would receive travel vouchers worth Rs 10,000, redeemable for any IndiGo flight within the next 12 months.
IndiGo did not clarify the criteria used to determine which passengers qualify as severely impacted.
This new relief is in addition to the Rs 5,000–10,000 compensation mandated by the government for passengers whose flights were cancelled within 24 hours of departure.
In a statement on X, IndiGo apologised for the disruption and assured customers that it is working to rebuild trust. The airline said it remains committed to delivering a safe, reliable, and consistent travel experience as it works through regulatory scrutiny and internal restructuring.
The DGCA’s ongoing monitoring and the government’s operational directives indicate that heightened oversight will continue until IndiGo demonstrates sustained operational stability.
