DGCA Confirms IndiGo Cleared All Refunds for December Flight Disruptions; Airline Offers ₹10,000 ‘Gesture of Care’ Vouchers
New Delhi, January 16, 2026:
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday confirmed that IndiGo Airlines has successfully processed and credited all refunds to passengers affected by widespread flight cancellations and operational disruptions between December 3 and 5, 2025.
The regulator’s clarification comes after several weeks of intense scrutiny and passenger complaints regarding delayed refunds and compensation following one of the most severe operational crises in Indian aviation in recent years.
In an official press note dated January 16, the DGCA stated:
“IndiGo informed that all refunds for IndiGo flight cancellations during the period of 3rd to 5th December 2025 have been fully processed and cleared within the original source of the payment.”
The refunds were credited back to the original mode of payment, addressing a major grievance raised by affected passengers across the country.
Reason Behind the Disruptions
The large-scale cancellations and delays, which left thousands of passengers stranded at airports, were primarily attributed to IndiGo’s difficulty in adapting to the newly implemented Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms. These DGCA regulations were introduced to enhance pilot and crew safety by enforcing stricter rest periods.
According to DGCA, the airline faced scheduling challenges while transitioning to the new rules. These were further aggravated by technical issues, high seasonal travel demand, and operational constraints, resulting in cascading cancellations and prolonged delays.
Passengers Entitled to Statutory Compensation
The DGCA clarified that passengers whose flights were cancelled within 24 hours of scheduled departure during this period remain eligible for compensation under the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) Section 3, Series M, Part IV.
This regulation mandates fixed compensation based on flight duration, in addition to refunds or alternate flight arrangements.
Passengers are advised to formally submit claims if compensation has not yet been received.
IndiGo Introduces ‘Gesture of Care’ Initiative
In addition to statutory compensation, IndiGo has announced a voluntary goodwill initiative titled “Gesture of Care” (GoC) to support affected customers.
Under this scheme:
- Eligible passengers will receive two travel vouchers of ₹5,000 each, totaling ₹10,000.
- The vouchers are valid for 12 months.
- The offer applies to passengers whose flights were cancelled or delayed by more than three hours between December 3 and 5, 2025.
Passengers can check eligibility and apply through:
👉 https://www.goindigo.in/compensation.html
The list of impacted flights is available at:
👉 https://www.goindigo.in/information/goc-impacted-flights.html
DGCA Advisory to Passengers
The aviation regulator advised passengers to ensure that their mobile numbers and email addresses are correctly updated in booking records, whether tickets were booked directly with IndiGo or through travel agents. This will help ensure timely communication regarding refunds, compensation, and travel updates.
DGCA Continues Monitoring
While confirming that refunds have now been cleared, the DGCA emphasized that it will continue to closely monitor IndiGo’s compliance with passenger rights regulations. The authority has also granted temporary exemptions from certain FDTL norms to help stabilize airline operations without compromising safety.
Passenger Reactions
Although the refund confirmation has brought relief to thousands of travelers, several passengers had earlier expressed frustration over delayed responses, lack of communication, and airport chaos during the disruption period.
The latest announcement is expected to restore some confidence among travelers, even as questions remain over IndiGo’s preparedness for regulatory transitions and peak-season operations.
