IndiGo Reports 78% Profit Slump in Q3 FY26 Despite Passenger Growth

India’s largest airline, IndiGo, reported a steep decline in profitability for the December quarter as large-scale flight disruptions and the implementation of new labour laws weighed heavily on earnings. Despite steady passenger growth and higher revenues, exceptional costs and regulatory penalties significantly impacted the airline’s bottom line.

IndiGo Reports 78% Slump in December Quarter Net Profit

InterGlobe Aviation, the parent company of IndiGo, on Thursday announced a 78 per cent year-on-year drop in net profit for the October–December quarter. The airline posted a profit of Rs 549.1 crore, sharply lower than Rs 2,448.8 crore reported in the same period last year.

According to the company, earnings were affected by major operational disruptions in early December and substantial provisions linked to the implementation of new labour laws.

Key Reasons Behind the Profit Decline

Massive Exceptional Costs in Q3

IndiGo said it absorbed a total impact of Rs 1,546.5 crore during the third quarter. This included:

• Rs 577.2 crore due to large-scale flight disruptions in early December

• Rs 969.3 crore linked to provisions for implementing new labour laws

Additionally, the airline accounted for a Rs 22.2 crore penalty imposed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), categorised under exceptional items.

Impact of Currency Fluctuations

Currency movements related to dollar-denominated future obligations also affected the airline’s finances. These forex-related impacts aggregated to Rs 1,035 crore during the December quarter, further pressuring profitability.

Revenue and Passenger Growth Remain Strong

Topline Performance in Q3 FY26

Despite profit headwinds, IndiGo recorded higher revenue during the quarter. InterGlobe Aviation reported a total income of Rs 24,540.6 crore, compared with Rs 22,992.8 crore in the corresponding quarter last year.

IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers acknowledged the operational challenges but highlighted revenue growth, stating:

"Despite these operational disruptions, IndiGo delivered a topline of around 245 billion rupees in the December quarter, reflecting a growth of around 7 per cent with a reported profit of around 5 billion rupees and an underlying profit excluding exceptional items and forex of 31 billion rupees."

Passenger Traffic and Fleet Strength

Strong Demand Despite Disruptions

During the December quarter:

• IndiGo carried nearly 32 million passengers

• Total passengers flown in the last calendar year stood at around 124 million

At the end of the quarter, the airline operated a fleet of 440 aircraft, supporting its expanding domestic and international network.

Details of Exceptional Items

According to the company release:

"Exceptional items for the quarter ended December 2025 were INR 15,465 million, including estimated provision towards implementation of new labour laws of INR 9,693 million, costs related to operational disruptions of INR 5,550 million and penalty of INR 222 million as per the DGCA order."

DGCA Action and Flight Disruptions Explained

December Operational Crisis

Between December 3 and 5, IndiGo faced major disruptions:

• 2,507 flights were cancelled

• 1,852 flights were delayed

• Over 3 lakh passengers were impacted nationwide

Following the disruptions, the DGCA curtailed IndiGo’s winter schedule by 10 per cent until February 10.

On January 17, the regulator imposed fines totalling Rs 22.20 crore, warned CEO Pieter Elbers and two other senior executives, and directed the airline to submit a Rs 50 crore bank guarantee to ensure long-term corrective measures.

Operational Stability Assurance

The DGCA said IndiGo has assured:

• No flight cancellations after February 10, 2026

• Adequate crew strength

• Removal of two Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) exemptions approved on December 6, 2025

This assurance is based on the airline’s currently approved network and operational capacity.

Cash Position and Debt Snapshot

As of the end of December:

• Total cash balance stood at Rs 51,606.9 crore

  • Rs 36,944.5 crore as free cash

  • Rs 14,662.4 crore as restricted cash

The company disclosed:

"The capitalised operating lease liability was Rs 524,784 million. The total debt (including the capitalised operating lease liability) was Rs 768,583 million."

Outlook Remains Confident

Commenting on the road ahead, CEO Pieter Elbers said:

"Our long-term fundamentals remain strong, backed by our expanding fleet, growing domestic and international network."

Despite near-term challenges, IndiGo continues to focus on stabilising operations and strengthening its long-term growth strategy.