Passengers crowd around the IndiGo counter at Hyderabad Airport on December 6, 2025
| Photo Credit: G. Ramakrishna
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (December 10, 2025) told IndiGo to take steps for payment of compensation to passengers left stranded after the large-scale flight disruptions, while also questioning how airfares on other carriers surged to unprecedented levels during the crisis.
On the issue of compensation for passengers, a bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela referred to a circular dated August 6, 2010, issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) dealing with facilities and compensation in cases of denied boarding, cancellations and delays.
The court ordered that the provision “for payment of compensation will be strictly adhered to by Respondent 3 (IndiGo) and shall be ensured by the ministry of civil aviation and DGCA”.
“In addition to the presence of the circular, if there are any other measures available for payment of damages, in such situation, the same shall also be ensures by authorities,” the court added.
Chaos foretold: Editorial on the Indigo crisis, air safety
Begin compensation disbursal: Court
During the hearing, the Bench told the airline to begin compensation disbursal. “Please start making the payment of compensation. It is not only in respect of the cancellation, but also because of the other suffering,” the court said, referring to passengers who spent hours stranded in airports across the country.
When IndiGo submitted that the incident had “dented” the reputation it had built over many years, the court responded that such submissions had no legal basis. “That we don’t know. This is no legal plea. We will pass an order directing you to make compensation,” the court said.
“…What about the agony passengers had to endure as they stood stranded, facing what they described as a hostile staff?” the court remarked, while clarifying that it had not passed any order yet but underscored that compensation is payable under the 2010 circular and must be adhered to by the airline.
Soaring fares during crisis
The Bench also expressed concern over the sharp rise in ticket prices on other airlines at the height of the disruptions. “Air tickets that were available for ₹4,000–₹5,000 went up to ₹25,000–₹30,000… How could the fare go to ₹39,000–₹40,000? How can it happen?” the court remarked, asking how other carriers were permitted to “take advantage” of the situation.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma, representing the Centre, informed the court that it had intervened for the first time by issuing fare caps.
Taking note that the Centre had indeed issued an order to check unreasonable fare surges, the court said, “We appreciate the steps taken by the Ministry and DGCA.”
Economy affected: Court
However, the Court also questioned how such a crisis was allowed to escalate to the point of leaving “lakhs of passengers unattended” at airports.
“Such a situation is not confined to inconvenience to passengers but also affects the economy of the country, as in the present days, fast movement of passengers is an important aspect to keep the economy functioning,” the bench remarked.
The Court was informed by the Centre that a committee has already been constituted to examine the disruptions. The Court noted that since IndiGo will be given an opportunity to present its case, it refrained from commenting on the cause of the cancellations.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on January 22, 2026, with the court directing all respondents to file their responses before the next date.
Published – December 10, 2025 02:31 pm IST
