The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Thursday, 23 July 2026, invited public comments on a commitment proposal submitted by IndiGo's parent company InterGlobe Aviation Limited, as the regulator probes the airline's alleged abuse of market dominance following the widespread flight disruptions of December 2025. Stakeholders have until 13 August 2026 to submit their objections and suggestions.

What IndiGo Has Proposed

In its commitment proposal, IndiGo has offered a multi-pronged set of measures to address the CCI's preliminary concerns. The airline has proposed constituting a Crisis Management Group virtually within 15 minutes of a large-scale disruption and physically activating it at the command centre within one hour.

IndiGo defines a 'large-scale disruption' as a situation in which more than 30 per cent of its planned daily capacity is affected — excluding cancellations caused by force majeure events such as adverse weather, technical failures, crew strikes, or airport closures.

Passenger Relief Measures on the Table

For affected passengers, the airline has proposed offering alternative flights within 48 to 72 hours at no additional charge or fare difference. Passengers who cannot be accommodated, or who decline the alternative, would receive automatic refunds within a defined period along with compensation as mandated under Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) requirements.

Critically, IndiGo has also committed not to charge fares above those recently submitted to the DGCA for fresh bookings during a large-scale disruption, until capacity is restored. This directly addresses the overcharging concern that drew regulatory scrutiny after December 2025.

Background: The December 2025 Crisis

The probe stems from a severe operational breakdown in which IndiGo cancelled more than 4,000 flights between 1 and 9 December 2025, primarily due to crew shortages. The airline had failed to manage its pilot duty roster when the DGCA's second phase of Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms came into effect, leaving aircraft stranded across airports and throwing the travel plans of thousands of passengers into disarray.

The CCI had ordered a formal investigation on 4 February 2026, citing prima facie evidence of abuse of dominant position. The Commission noted that by cancelling a significant share of scheduled capacity, IndiGo had effectively withheld its services from the market, creating an artificial scarcity and limiting consumer access to air travel during peak demand.

The Legal Framework Behind the Process

The commitment mechanism being invoked is provided under the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023, which allows companies under CCI investigation to voluntarily offer corrective measures to resolve cases without prolonged litigation. The objective is to enable quicker market correction while reducing the burden on both parties.

IndiGo has maintained in its application that the December disruptions were an isolated event caused by a combination of unforeseen circumstances, and that its conduct did not produce anti-competitive effects. The airline says it has offered these commitments to address the Commission's preliminary concerns and reduce future passenger inconvenience.

What Happens Next

The CCI will review the public feedback received by 13 August 2026 before deciding whether to accept, modify, or reject IndiGo's commitment proposal. If accepted, the case could be resolved without a full-scale antitrust ruling — a significant outcome for India's dominant carrier, which controls the largest share of domestic aviation capacity. The process will be closely watched by the broader aviation sector as a test of how India's competition law handles dominant-player conduct during operational crises.