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Nearly a month after a major operational disruption disrupted flights across its network, IndiGo says it is cooperating fully with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) as the regulator examines the episode that left thousands of passengers stranded between December 3 and 5. The airline has since restored normal operations and is reviewing its internal processes as part of efforts to prevent this from happening again.
Even as the DGCA review continues, India’s largest airline continues its international expansion plans. IndiGo is expected to launch non-stop services to Athens in January 2026, marking the international debut of the Airbus A321XLR by an Indian carrier. The aircraft’s extended range will allow the airline to open new medium- and long-haul routes directly from India, expanding its reach into markets that were previously not commercially viable with narrow-body aircraft.
The Athens service will add to IndiGo’s growing European presence, following the launch of long-haul operations to Manchester, Amsterdam, Copenhagen and London in 2025. These routes were introduced using wide-body Boeing 787-9 aircraft through a partnership with Norse Atlantic Airways, a key step in IndiGo’s strategy to evolve from a primarily short-haul operator to a global carrier.
The December disruptions, which led to mass flight cancellations and schedule instability, are the subject of regulatory scrutiny. IndiGo said it was providing all information requested by the DGCA committee probing the incident. The airline also publicly apologized to customers affected by the disruption.
In the weeks following the episode, IndiGo took steps aimed at stabilizing its operations and addressing internal staffing concerns. InterGlobe Aviation Ltd, the airline’s parent company, has decided to increase pilot allowances for all types of roles, with the revised structure set to come into effect on January 1, 2026.
The revised allowances include an increase in domestic stopover allowances, with captains’ allowances increasing from Rs 2,000 to Rs 1,000 for a period of 10 to 24 hours, while first officers’ allowances have been increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500. Deadhead allowances for scheduled blocks have also been revised upwards, with captains now receiving Rs 4 000, against Rs 3,000, and first officers Rs 2,000, against Rs 1,500 earlier. Deadhead compensation refers to compensation paid to pilots when traveling as passengers to position for duty or returning home.
Despite the disruptions, IndiGo plans to close calendar year 2025 having carried over 123 million passengers, strengthening its position among the world’s leading airlines in terms of passenger volume. The airline operated an average of more than 2,200 flights per day during the year, maintaining peak punctuality for much of the period, as noted in its official year-end statement.
