DGCA grants IndiGo temporary FDTL exemptions amid widespread flight cancellations

According to people familiar with the matter, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) approved the relaxation on Friday, allowing the airline to operate under modified rules until February 10, 2026.

The country’s largest carrier, holding more than 60 percent domestic market share, had formally asked the regulator for relief a day earlier, while also informing DGCA that it would reduce operations from December 8 to stabilise schedules.

The airline expects full normalisation only by February 10.

Regulator insists safety not compromised

The DGCA’s order emphasised that the waivers are being provided solely to support operational stabilisation and should not be interpreted as a reduction in safety standards.

The new FDTL regulations—implemented in stages from July 1 and November 1—were designed to mitigate pilot fatigue, a continuing safety concern.

Pilot unions, however, criticised the decision and demanded immediate withdrawal of IndiGo’s exemptions.

Key exemptions alter night duty rules

With the temporary relaxations, IndiGo will follow an adjusted definition of “night,” covering 12 am to 5 am instead of the extended 12 am to 6 am window mandated under the new rules.

Pilots will also be allowed to perform up to six landings during these hours, whereas the revised norms limit night landings to only two.

In addition, DGCA has suspended a rule applicable to all airlines that barred the substitution of the mandatory 48-hour weekly rest period with any other form of leave.

This clause has been withdrawn immediately to ease operational pressures.

DGCA to review exemptions every two weeks

The regulator will conduct a review every fortnight. IndiGo must submit reports detailing crew utilisation, measures to increase availability, improvements in operability and revised rostering plans.

The airline has also been instructed to provide a comprehensive roadmap within 30 days outlining how it intends to achieve complete compliance with the new FDTL requirements.

IndiGo admits planning errors under new fatigue rules

During a meeting on Thursday, IndiGo acknowledged it had underestimated the number of pilots required to implement the new duty-time norms.

This miscalculation, the airline admitted, triggered the cascading operational breakdown that has worsened since Monday.

On Friday alone, more than 500 IndiGo flights were cancelled across major airports, with all domestic departures from Delhi suspended until midnight.

New FDTL norms stretch rest periods, tighten night duties

Under the updated rules, weekly rest requirements for pilots increased from 36 hours to 48 hours, while night landings were capped at two per week instead of six.

Consecutive night duties were limited to two days, and the definition of night hours was extended—all of which significantly affected IndiGo’s network, which relies heavily on high aircraft utilisation and a substantial number of late-night flights.

Crew shortages expose IndiGo’s lean operating structure

DGCA documents revealed that IndiGo requires 2,422 captains and 2,153 first officers to meet the new standards for Airbus A320 operations.

The airline currently falls short, with only 2,357 captains and 2,194 first officers available.

Although the revised fatigue rules apply across the sector, IndiGo has been hit the hardest.

Its vast network, extensive late-night schedule and lean staffing model—despite a fleet of more than 400 aircraft and over 2,300 daily flights—have left it with limited buffer to absorb crew shortages.

By comparison, the Air India group operates less than half the number of flights.