IndiGo Under Regulatory Scrutiny Amid Prolonged Flight-Cancellation Crisis

India’s largest airline, IndiGo, is now under close regulatory monitoring following a weeks-long disruption in its flight operations. On 10 December 2025, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) deployed its own personnel at the airline’s corporate headquarters to oversee daily operations, crew management, and scheduling compliance, as reported by Reuters. The move marks one of the strongest instances of direct regulatory intervention in the Indian civil aviation sector in recent years.

Background of the Crisis

Weeks of Flight Cancellations Trigger Government Oversight

IndiGo has been grappling with a major operational crisis since late November 2025, resulting in hundreds of flight cancellations daily. Passengers across the country reported stranded travel plans, missed connections, and logistical challenges at key metro airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. The airline attributed part of the disruption to crew shortages, high leave rates, and peak-season demand, but experts have also pointed to gaps in operational planning and risk mitigation.

The prolonged crisis prompted urgent intervention by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), highlighting the vulnerability of India’s high-frequency domestic airline network to staffing and scheduling disruptions.

Regulatory Measures and Oversight

DGCA Steps Up Supervision and Compliance Checks

With DGCA personnel now stationed at IndiGo’s headquarters, the regulator aims to ensure:

• Adherence to crew duty-hour regulations
• Timely rectification of operational bottlenecks
• Compliance with passenger rights and safety norms
• Transparent reporting on flight cancellations, delays, and contingency planning

Officials emphasized that the deployment is a preventive measure designed to stabilize operations and restore passenger confidence.

Implications for India’s Aviation Sector

Operational Resilience, Policy Enforcement, and Market Confidence

The IndiGo crisis highlights the importance of robust workforce planning, contingency frameworks, and regulatory supervision in the aviation sector. For policymakers, it underscores the need for real-time monitoring mechanisms and clear escalation protocols to mitigate disruptions in major carriers.

Market analysts note that proactive oversight could enhance passenger trust, prevent economic losses due to flight disruptions, and set a precedent for stronger governance in high-capacity carriers. The move also signals that the government is willing to intervene decisively when systemic operational risks threaten sector stability.