IndiGo, India’s busiest airline, has announced a compensation package for passengers affected by a recent operational crisis that saw widespread flight cancellations and delays, leaving many travellers stranded at airports across the country.
The airline said on Thursday that it will issue ₹10,000 travel vouchers to passengers who were “severely impacted” during the period of disruption from December 3 to 5, 2025. These vouchers can be redeemed on any future IndiGo flights within the next 12 months and are part of efforts to address customer dissatisfaction caused by the chaos.
Compensation details and additional payouts
IndiGo’s announcement clarifies that the ₹10,000 vouchers are in addition to government‑mandated compensation under the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) rules. Passengers whose flights were cancelled less than 24 hours before departure are entitled to cash compensation ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000, depending on the duration of the flight.
The airline added that refunds for cancelled flights have been initiated, with most already processed and credited back to passengers’ accounts, and the remainder expected to be completed shortly.
Background to the disruption
The compensation move follows days of operational disruption at IndiGo, which resulted in hundreds of flight cancellations and lengthy delays at major airports, including Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru, due to crew shortages and scheduling challenges. Authorities have since stepped in, with the DGCA reportedly summoning IndiGo’s CEO and demanding explanations for the breakdown in operations.
The Delhi High Court has also taken a strong interest, questioning how the situation was allowed to escalate and urging swift compensation for affected travellers as per regulatory standards.
Industry and regulatory response
In addition to passenger compensation efforts, the crisis has prompted broader regulatory action. Government authorities have required IndiGo to reduce its winter flight schedule by about 10% to stabilise operations and prevent further disruption. Meanwhile, aviation watchdogs continue to monitor the situation closely.
IndiGo’s compensation package aims to restore traveller confidence as the airline works to return its network to regular service and reassure customers about future reliability.