India’s aviation regulator has levied a Rs 22.20 crore penalty on IndiGo after an investigation found that overworked crew rosters, inadequate operational planning, and poor implementation of revised duty time norms caused widespread flight delays and cancellations, severely affecting passengers across the country.
Over 3 Lakh Passengers Affected
The enquiry revealed that more than 2,500 flights were cancelled and nearly 1,900 delayed, inconveniencing over 3 lakh passengers.
Regulator Imposes Heavy Penalty
IndiGo has been fined Rs 22.20 crore, and the airline’s CEO and COO have been cautioned for lapses in operational oversight.
Bank Guarantee Mandate
The regulator has asked IndiGo to provide a bank guarantee of Rs 750 crore to ensure compliance with operational norms.
Over-Optimised Operational Model
The investigation concluded that IndiGo’s management prioritised maximum utilisation of crew, aircraft, and network resources, leaving little flexibility to absorb disruptions.
Impact on Operational Resilience
The over-optimised model weakened the airline’s overall operational resilience, leading to repeated delays and cancellations.
Compliance Measures Expected
IndiGo is now expected to revise crew rostering, duty time implementation, and contingency planning to prevent future passenger inconvenience.