IndiGo executives fined Rs 40 lakh after DGCA appellate authority rejects training lapse appeal

IndiGo on Friday said an appellate authority has rejected its appeal against regulator DGCA’s penalties on two senior executives of the airline for alleged failure to use qualified simulators for pilot training at certain airports.

In September last year, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) imposed a fine of Rs 20 lakh each on the Director Flight Operations and Director Training of IndiGo.

The DGCA Appellate Authority, through an order dated January 7, has dismissed the appeal.

“The matter has been disposed of by reinstating the penalty of Rs 20 lakh each on the Director Flight Operations and Director Training of the company,” IndiGo’s parent InterGlobe Aviation said in a filing to BSE.

The watchdog had imposed the penalty for the airline’s alleged failure to use qualified simulators for pilot training at Category C aerodromes. Generally, pilots require additional training for operating flights to and from Category C airports as they might have operational challenges.

This regulatory scrutiny on training standards comes amid a broader staffing crisis for the carrier. Earlier in December 2025, IndiGo had grounded at least 2,000 flights due to a pilot shortage after failing to plan adequately for new rules limiting work hours. Despite holding a 64.5% domestic market share and operating a fleet of around 400 aircraft, government data presented in Parliament last month revealed IndiGo employed only 5,085 pilots, significantly fewer than Air India’s 6,350.

The operational strain from this shortage had cascading effects on logistics as well. In mid-December 2025, industry executives reported that the disruptions delayed e-commerce shipments during the critical Black Friday and year-end sales, impacting high-value and metro-to-metro orders that rely on air freight.

While informing the stock exchange about the penalty in October last year, IndiGo had said that it was in the process of contesting the order before the appropriate appellate authority. To address its workforce gaps, the airline has reportedly outlined plans to hire 300 captains and 600 junior first officers over the next 12 months.

Shares of IndiGo fell 1.22% to end at Rs 4,844.70 apiece on BSE on Friday.

(With inputs from PTI)