The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has initiated an internal examination into whether IndiGo, the nation's dominant airline with over 65 per cent domestic market share, has violated competition norms. A senior official confirmed on December 12, 2025, that the fair trade watchdog is assessing aspects including the carrier's overall dominance, route-specific control, and possible abuse of dominant position, following widespread flight disruptions that affected thousands of passengers.

IndiGo experienced severe operational challenges, cancelling hundreds of flights starting December 2, 2025, with disruptions peaking mid-week before gradual stabilisation. The issues stemmed primarily from inadequate planning in adapting to revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms enforced from November 1, 2025, which imposed stricter crew rest requirements and limits on night operations, compounded by other factors.

While the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conducts a separate probe into safety and operational lapses, concerns have emerged regarding whether IndiGo's market dominance contributed to passenger hardships through potential exploitative or exclusionary practices, as outlined under Section 4 of the Competition Act.

Also Read: DGCA Terminates Four Senior Inspectors, Orders 10% IndiGo Capacity Reduction

The CCI's review is proceeding suo motu in the absence of any formal complaint, involving a preliminary assessment of available information to determine prima facie evidence of violations. Only upon establishing such evidence would a formal investigation be ordered.

Dominance itself is not deemed anti-competitive under the law, but its abuse—such as excessive pricing, unfair conditions, or denial of market access—constitutes a violation. The regulator possesses authority to impose penalties and issue cease-and-desist orders to enforce fair practices across sectors.

Also Read: IndiGo Under 24/7 DGCA Monitoring Following Thousands of Flight Cancellations; CEO Summoned