India's aviation regulator has imposed a record fine of US$2.45 million on IndiGo, the country's largest airline, following widespread flight cancellations in December. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also issued warnings to senior executives and directed the airline to remove the head of its operations control.

The disruptions, which included the cancellation of approximately 4,500 flights, left hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded across India. Airports were thrown into disarray as the airline struggled to manage the fallout from the cancellations, which primarily affected domestic routes.

IndiGo attributed the chaos to "misjudgement and planning gaps" in adapting to new pilot rest regulations. These regulations, implemented to enhance passenger safety by ensuring pilots have adequate rest periods between flights, had been in the works for two years, giving airlines ample time to prepare. The DGCA, however, found that IndiGo failed to strike a balance between commercial needs and the well-being of its crew members. The regulator determined that the airline's poor roster planning led to the mass cancellations.

In addition to the fine, the DGCA has ordered IndiGo to relieve its Senior Vice-President of his responsibilities at the operations control center. Warnings have also been issued to senior officials at the company, including CEO Pieter Elbers, for "inadequate overall oversight of flight operations and crisis management".

IndiGo, which commands 60% of India's domestic market and operates over 2,000 flights daily, has yet to respond to the fine. The crisis poses a significant challenge to the airline, which has built its reputation on punctuality.

The flight cancellations occurred during India's peak wedding season, a period when families spend considerable amounts on celebrations. The disruptions caused significant inconvenience, with some couples even resorting to video conferencing at their wedding receptions after their flights were canceled.

The incident has brought to light the tensions between business interests and passenger safety within India's rapidly growing aviation sector. The new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) mandate that pilots receive at least 48 consecutive hours of rest within a 7-day period, including two local nights. Aviation experts say that airlines in India have been pushing for less rest time for pilots for years. The recent disruptions underscore the importance of these regulations and the need for stronger enforcement to protect passenger safety.