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Hyderabad, Telangana | January 29
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers admitted that the airline failed its passengers during three days of disruption in December 2025. However, he said the incident does not define IndiGo’s 20-year journey.
He shared these views at the Wings India 2026 Summit held in Hyderabad, Telangana.
Swift Action Helped Restore Operations
Elbers said the airline acted quickly after the disruption. The team began resetting the flight network by the fifth day. Operational stability returned by the ninth day.
Daily passenger traffic soon reached 3.7–3.8 lakh, reflecting a steady recovery.
“We let our customers down, and we apologise,” Elbers said. He added that the airline kept passengers informed and offered alternative flights wherever possible.
Short-Term Crisis Will Not Define Long-Term Growth
The IndiGo CEO stressed that short disruptions cannot erase two decades of progress. Learning from challenges remains a priority for the airline.
“We cannot allow three days, or even a week, to define 20 years of work,” he said. According to Elbers, IndiGo aims to grow into one of the world’s largest airline operators.
DGCA Slaps ₹22.20 Crore Penalty
Earlier, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) penalised IndiGo Airlines with fines totalling ₹22.20 crore.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation ordered an inquiry after widespread disruptions in early December 2025. During this period, IndiGo cancelled 2,507 flights and delayed 1,852 flights. More than 3 lakh passengers faced inconvenience nationwide.
India’s Aviation Sector Outpaces Global Recovery
Elbers highlighted India’s rapid aviation growth. The country has crossed pre-COVID levels. Many global markets still struggle to recover.
IndiGo completed 20 years of operations this year. The airline carried 124 million passengers in the last financial year.
IndiGo’s Growth at a Glance
The airline now operates over 2,200 daily flights. Its network covers 141 destinations. The fleet includes 440 aircraft.
Annual revenue crossed the $10 billion mark. In 2015, IndiGo served only 21 Indian cities.
Today, flights connect 96 cities across India. Nearly 90% of the population lives within 100 kilometres of an IndiGo-served airport, strengthening national connectivity.
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