IndiGo profit dives 78% to Rs 549 cr in Q3 that saw Dec schedule collapse

NEW DELHI: IndiGo net profit dived 78% to Rs 549 crore in the tumultuous Q3 FY 2026 with its schedule collapsing in early Dec, compared to a profit of Rs 2,449 crore in the same period last year. Apologising for the disruptions, the airline’s CEO, Pieter Elbers, said the profit decline was due to three major factors — new labour laws impact at about Rs 1,000 crore, operational issues costing it Rs 577 crore and the rupee’s devaluation.Despite the large-scale disruptions in early Dec; fare caps being enforced for domestic flights since Dec 6 and the airline’s flights cut 10% for this winter schedule, IndiGo saw its total income increase 6.7% to Rs 24,541 crore this Q3 from Rs 22,993 crore in same period last fiscal. In fact, the airline saw its highest ever quarterly revenue this Q3. IndiGo stock closed 1.1% up at Rs 4,913.8 on BSE Thursday, when the broader market was up 0.5% up.“The major disruption was on Dec 3, 4 & 5, 2025. During these three days, 2,500 flights were cancelled impacting 3.5 lakh passengers. We were able to swiftly restore flights (a few days later in Dec) and were back at 3.8 lakh passengers daily. In CY 2025, IndiGo flew 12.4 crore passengers – 9% more than previous year,” Elbers said. According to govt data, IndiGo had cancelled a fourth of the 17,404 domestic flights it was to operate between Dec 1 & 9 (both days included). On the other hand, just a shade over 2% of the 2,702 international flights it was to operate in the same time were cancelled. So far there is now word on why the airline did so.

Following the fiasco, govt has cut IndiGo’s schedule by 10% for this winter. Asked when he sees returning to pre-cut levels, Elbers said: “We are ambitious of returning to not just that level but growing further in comings times. The schedule cut is till this winter schedule (that ends last Saturday of March).”While the DGCA has submitted its report into the schedule collapse and taken some action, the airline is doing its own probe. It is yet to take any action against any of its officials. The airline’s pilots are upset due to multiple factors like punishing rosters and “arrogance” of some top people. IndiGo is yet to say how it intends to mend fences with them and also did not give its pilot hiring plans given the massive fleet expansion with a plane being inducted every week.A “profusely apologetic” Elbers said the airline is preparing for Feb operations when IndiGo’s exemption from implementing the more humane pilot rostering norms ends, thereby increasing their requirement. “Our long term plans going forward are unchanged. From Friday we start our Airbus A321 XLR (extra long range) international operations with Athens flights,” he said.