New Delhi : India’s largest airline, IndiGo, has come under intense scrutiny from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) after cancelling a staggering 586,705 flights between December 1 and 7, 2025. The mass disruption, unprecedented in Indian aviation history, caused chaos at airports nationwide and left lakhs of passengers stranded during the peak holiday travel season.
According to officials, the cancellations were driven by a severe crew shortage, mounting aircraft maintenance backlogs, and adverse weather, creating a cascading operational failure. Although IndiGo processed refunds worth ₹569.65 crore ($63.22 million), thousands of travelers reported delays in compensation and difficulties securing alternative bookings.
Stock Market Impact: InterGlobe Aviation Suffers Steepest Drop Since 2020
Shares of InterGlobe Aviation, IndiGo’s parent company, crashed 15% on the BSE, erasing over ₹10,000 crore in market value. Analysts described it as the sharpest single-day fall since the COVID-19 market shock in March 2020.
Brokerage firm JM Financial estimated the crisis could cut FY26 earnings by 8–9%, while rival airline SpiceJet saw its stock surge 13.9% as it captured diverted passenger traffic.
Government Warns of Strict Penalties
Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu termed the situation “unacceptable” and announced plans for “exemplary action” to prevent future breakdowns. IndiGo could face fines of up to ₹5 lakh per violation under DGCA’s Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) rules.
Meanwhile, former Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia urged IndiGo to prioritize passenger rights, including timely refunds and accommodation for stranded travelers.
CEO Pieter Elbers Issues Public Apology
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers apologized for the crisis, acknowledging the “immense inconvenience caused to families, business travelers, and holiday-goers.” Social media was flooded with images of exhausted passengers sleeping on floors at Delhi’s T3 terminal, some stranded for over 24 hours.
Deepening Fault Lines in India’s Aviation Sector
Aviation experts say the meltdown exposes systemic weaknesses, including:
Pilot fatigue and crew scheduling gaps
Overdependence on low-cost operations
Rising ATF (aviation turbine fuel) costs amid surging crude prices
Shortage of MRO (maintenance, repair, overhaul) capacity
Consumer rights groups and legal forums have already filed class-action suits, arguing IndiGo violated passenger charter norms.
Operations Stabilizing, But Crisis Far From Over
While officials confirmed that IndiGo’s operations began stabilizing by December 10, the episode has triggered calls for a parliamentary probe into safety, workforce management, and airline accountability in India’s booming aviation market.
With holiday travel demand at record levels and airlines already stretched, the DGCA is expected to release new compliance directives within the week.
