IndiGo Airlines has been fined USD 5,832.60 by the United States Customs and Border Protection for late payment of the immigration user fee, as disclosed in the airline's regulatory filing on Thursday. The company stated it is exploring the possibility of a waiver for this penalty imposed for paying the non-interminable tax after the due date.
Despite the fine, IndiGo asserts that there is no material impact on its financials, operations, or other activities. This sentiment is reflected in the market, as shares of InterGlobe Aviation, IndiGo's parent company, rose by 1.22 per cent to Rs 4,430.50 per share on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on Thursday. The airline received notification of the penalty from US authorities on 24 July, Reuters stated.
In a separate incident, IndiGo faced criticism on social media platforms on July 25 when approximately 200 passengers experienced a significant delay at Istanbul Airport. Flight 6E 12, bound for Delhi, was postponed by 12 hours due to technical issues with the aircraft.
In response to the incident, the Aircraft carrier issued a statement expressing regret for the inconvenience caused to passengers. The airline claimed that customers were kept informed about the delay, refreshments were served, and necessary arrangements were made to ease the wait time at the airport.
These incidents highlight the challenges faced by airlines in maintaining punctuality and meeting regulatory requirements while dealing with technical issues and customer satisfaction.