By Micah Jonah
January 18, 2026
India’s aviation regulator has fined IndiGo $2.45 million, the highest penalty ever imposed, after the airline cancelled about 4,500 flights in early December, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded, nationwide.
Authorities also ordered the airline to provide a $5.51 million bank guarantee, warned top executives, directed the removal of the head of its operations control from active duties. The regulator said the disruptions were caused by poor pilot roster planning, an excessive focus on maximizing aircraft and crew usage at the expense of operational resilience.
IndiGo, which controls about 65 percent of India’s domestic market, said it will take appropriate corrective measures, while the aviation ministry has also ordered an internal review of the regulator’s own oversight role.
