The DGCA said IndiGo has assured “operational stability and no flight cancellations after Feb 10, 2026,” when its exemption from the new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules ends.
IndiGo’s management met DGCA officials and gave this assurance based on its current network, crew strength, and the removal of two FDTL exemptions approved on December 6, 2025.
IndiGo Assures DGCA of Operational Stability and No Flight Cancellations After February 2026
The regulator stated, “As per the latest weekly review meeting held on January 19, 2026, IndiGo has reported adequate pilot availability against projected operational requirements.”
For February 10, 2026, IndiGo reported 2,400 Airbus captains available against a need for 2,280, and 2,240 Airbus first officers against a need for 2,050.
The DGCA noted that IndiGo faced flight disruptions last month due to “mismanagement of adequate flight crew; inadequate regulatory preparedness at the operator level, and shortcomings in system software support, management structure, & operational control.”
It added that IndiGo focused too heavily on maximising crew, aircraft, and network use, reducing roster buffer margins and pushing duty schedules to their limits, which weakened roster integrity and operational resilience.
Aviation Ministry and DGCA Implement Emergency Stabilisation Measures in Public Interest
In response, the aviation ministry and DGCA introduced immediate stabilisation steps and temporary operational exceptions “strictly in public interest… without compromising safety.”
The regulator said continued oversight and corrective actions have stabilised IndiGo’s operations and improved service reliability, and that monitoring remains focused on roster integrity, crew availability, buffer adequacy, system strength, and FDTL compliance.
The statement reaffirmed that the aviation ministry and DGCA are committed to passenger safety, public interest, and ensuring compliant airline operations.
From December 6 to 30, 2025, the DGCA stationed flight operations inspectors and passenger support staff at IndiGo’s control centre and key airports to oversee daily operations and ensure compliance during recovery.
IndiGo was instructed to submit weekly and fortnightly reports on key operational and manpower issues, along with a corrective action plan to ensure stability and full compliance with revised FDTL rules.
The reporting system included tracking pilot training, attrition, pending endorsements, command upgrades, first officer hiring, pilot release timelines, and required versus available pilot strength.
