New Delhi | January 9, 2026

IndiGo has suffered a setback after the appellate authority upheld the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) decision to penalise two of its senior executives over alleged lapses in pilot training procedures. The airline confirmed on Friday that its appeal against the regulator’s order has been rejected.

In September 2025, the DGCA had imposed fines of ₹20 lakh each on IndiGo’s Director of Flight Operations and Director of Training. The penalty was linked to allegations that the airline did not use qualified flight simulators while training pilots for operations at certain Category C airports, which typically require specialised training due to operational challenges.

According to a regulatory filing by IndiGo’s parent company, InterGlobe Aviation, the DGCA Appellate Authority passed an order on January 7 dismissing the airline’s appeal and reinstating the penalties in full. IndiGo had earlier stated that it was contesting the action through the appropriate legal channels.

Following the development, IndiGo’s shares ended lower on Friday, slipping 1.22% to close at ₹4,844.70 on the Bombay Stock Exchange, reflecting investor concerns over regulatory compliance IndiGo’s Appeal Rejected, DGCA Penalty on Senior Executives Upheld

IndiGo faced a regulatory setback on January 9, 2026, after an appellate authority dismissed its appeal against penalties imposed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) over alleged shortcomings in pilot training. The decision relates to fines levied on two top officials of the airline.

In September 2025, the aviation regulator had fined IndiGo’s Director of Flight Operations and Director of Training ₹20 lakh each. The DGCA alleged that the airline failed to use approved simulators for training pilots operating flights to and from Category C aerodromes, which demand additional skill preparation due to operational complexities.

In a stock exchange filing, IndiGo’s parent firm InterGlobe Aviation said the appellate authority, through an order dated January 7, restored the penalties in full, rejecting the airline’s challenge to the regulator’s action.

The development weighed on the company’s stock, with IndiGo shares declining 1.22% to close at ₹4,844.70 on the BSE, as investors reacted to the upheld regulatory action.