IndiGo Pledges ₹500 Crore+ Compensation Amid Flight Chaos Recovery

New Delhi, December 13, 2025: India’s largest airline, IndiGo, is taking significant steps to address the massive flight disruptions that stranded thousands of passengers earlier this month, estimating a total compensation payout exceeding ₹500 crore (over 5 billion Indian Rupees). The airline’s primary focus this month is on urgent refunds, followed by compensation for the most affected flyers.

The Compensation and Refund Plan

The crisis, which peaked between December 3rd and 5th, 2025, led to widespread cancellations and delays, largely due to operational challenges linked to the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules for pilots.

IndiGo has outlined a two-pronged approach for passenger relief:

• Urgent Refunds: The airline has made it its top priority through December 2025 to process all refunds for cancelled flights quickly and efficiently. The company stated that most refunds are already completed, with the remainder expected to reflect in customer accounts shortly.
• Compensation for the ‘Severely Affected’: The expected ₹500 crore+ payout is aimed at two main groups:
  • Customers whose flights were cancelled within 24 hours of the scheduled departure time (in line with existing government rules).
  • Customers who were “severely stranded” at certain airports, particularly during the peak disruption period of December 3rd to 5th.

For the ‘severely stranded,’ the airline is offering a travel voucher worth ₹10,000, which is in addition to the regular compensation and refunds they are entitled to. This voucher is valid for any future IndiGo journey within the next 12 months.

Identifying and Contacting Stranded Passengers

IndiGo is currently in the process of identifying all the flights and customers who were severely impacted and stranded at airports. Once identified, the airline has confirmed it will proactively reach out to these customers in January 2026 to ensure the compensation is extended smoothly and without hassle.

Government Scrutiny and Operational Stability

The widespread chaos prompted swift action from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

• DGCA Oversight: The aviation regulator has increased its scrutiny of the airline, with officials deployed at the carrier’s headquarters to monitor operations and compliance. DGCA also recently terminated four Flight Operations Inspectors for alleged lapses in monitoring the airline’s operational preparedness.
• Operational Recovery: IndiGo’s flight operations have shown signs of stabilizing in the days following the crisis. The airline has stated that it is operating a revised, scaled-down schedule, with daily performance improving and on-time performance returning to industry standards.
• Root Cause Analysis: IndiGo has brought in external technical experts, led by a veteran aviation expert, to conduct an independent review and a detailed root cause analysis of the operational disruption.

The massive compensation and refund commitment underscores the gravity of the crisis and the intense pressure from regulators and the public to ensure customer rights are protected.