Almost a month after a major operational outage disrupted flights across its network, IndiGo says it is fully cooperating with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) as the regulator reviews the episode that left thousands of passengers stranded between December 3 and 5. The airline has since resumed normal operations and is examining internal processes as part of efforts to prevent a repeat.

Even as the DGCA review continues, India’s largest airline is going ahead with its international expansion plans. IndiGo is scheduled to launch non-stop services to Athens in January 2026, marking the international debut of the Airbus A321XLR by an Indian airline. The aircraft’s extended range will enable the airline to open new medium- and long-haul routes direct from India, extending its reach to markets that were previously not commercially viable with narrow-body aircraft.

The Athens service will add to IndiGo’s growing European footprint, following the launch of long-haul operations to Manchester, Amsterdam, Copenhagen and London in 2025. These routes were introduced with Boeing 787-9 widebody aircraft inducted through a partnership with Norse Atlantic Airways, a key step in IndiGo’s strategy to transition from a predominantly short-haul global operator.

The December disruption, which led to massive flight cancellations and schedule instability, is under regulatory scrutiny. IndiGo has said it is providing all the information requested by the DGCA committee reviewing the incident. The airline has also publicly apologized to customers affected by the disruption.

In the weeks following the episode, IndiGo took steps to stabilize operations and address internal staff concerns. InterGlobe Aviation Ltd, the parent company of the airline, decided to increase the allocations of pilots in different types of roles, with the revised structure coming into effect from January 1, 2026.

The revised allowances include an increase in house scale payments, with captains’ allowances increasing from Rs 2,000 to Rs 1,000 for a period of 10 to 24 hours, while first officers’ allowances have been increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500. Deadhead bonuses for scheduled blocks have also been revised upwards, with captains now receiving Rs 4,000, up from Rs 3,000, and first officers Rs 2,000, up from Rs 1,500 previously. Deadhead allowance refers to compensation paid to pilots when they travel as passengers to position for duty or return home.

Despite the disruption, IndiGo expects to close calendar year 2025 having flown more than 123 million passengers, strengthening its position among the world’s leading airlines by passenger volume. The airline operated an average of more than 2,200 flights per day during the year, maintaining industry-leading on-time performance for much of the period, as stated in the official year-end statement.