Delhi High Court Orders IndiGo Compensation, Criticizes Indian Government Over Crisis

The Delhi High Court has strongly criticized both IndiGo and the Indian government for the widespread disruption caused by the airline's operational crisis, which led to thousands of flight cancellations and exorbitant airfare surges. The court specifically ordered IndiGo, India's largest airline by market share, to provide compensation to all stranded passengers. It also sharply questioned the Indian Civil Aviation Ministry and the Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for their delayed intervention and for permitting other airlines to exploit the situation with fares reaching up to Rs 65,460 on key routes like Delhi-Mumbai.

Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya's bench described the IndiGo crisis as "alarming," emphasizing its broader economic implications beyond mere passenger inconvenience. The court demanded immediate and adequate steps from the Civil Aviation Ministry, DGCA, and IndiGo to ensure prompt relief for affected travelers. Furthermore, the judges expressed frustration with the Centre's reactive approach, questioning why measures were only implemented after the crisis had intensified. The court highlighted the unacceptability of other airlines capitalizing on the situation, allowing fares to spike to unprecedented levels.

The core of the IndiGo crisis stems from the airline's reported struggle to comply with new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms, which came into effect on November 1. These revised regulations altered crew rest and duty rules, leading to significant crew shortages across IndiGo's network. This operational breakdown resulted in mass cancellations, prompting the Indian government to cap domestic economy fares and mandate a 10% reduction in IndiGo's daily services, translating to over 200 cancellations per day. The High Court further questioned whether IndiGo had utilized the planned staggered rollout of FDTL changes and demanded an investigation report from the Centre regarding the airline's staffing and accountability.

The Delhi High Court will reconvene on January 22, 2026, to review the progress. By then, Indian regulators are expected to present a detailed report on accountability, the status of passenger compensation, and the airline's strategies for operational stabilization. The judiciary, government, and IndiGo remain under considerable pressure to restore normal operations, regulate airfares, and effectively address the ongoing disruption faced by thousands of domestic flyers.