CCI Investigation into IndiGo: How India’s Largest Airline Came to Dominate the Skies
Introduction: When Market Leadership Invites Regulatory Scrutiny The Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) decision to examine IndiGo Airlines over mass flight cancellations marks a critical moment in India’s aviation sector. While the CCI has not yet specified the exact statutory violations, the probe assumes significance given IndiGo’s overwhelming 65% share of India’s domestic aviation market . Market dominance, though not illegal per se, invites antitrust scrutiny when it appears to distort competition, consumer choice, or market access. IndiGo’s rise—from a modest low-cost carrier in 2006 to a near-monopolistic force by 2025—offers a textbook case study of how timing, policy gaps, industry failures, and capacity decisions can reshape an entire sector. IndiGo’s Early Years: Right Place, Right Time IndiGo, operated by InterGlobe Aviation Ltd. , commenced operations in 2006 with a no-frills, low-cost model and a small fleet. Unlike its competitors, IndiGo focused on operational di...