New Delhi: India’s largest airline, IndiGo, has assured the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that it will not cancel any flights after February 10, 2026, when the airline begins implementing the complete set of Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms. The airline has informed the regulator that it now has a sufficient number of pilots to meet its operational requirements.
The assurance comes after a period of severe operational disruption in early December, when IndiGo was forced to cancel thousands of flights due to a shortage of pilots following the rollout of revised FDTL rules aimed at ensuring more humane working hours for flight crew.
Background: FDTL Exemptions After Operational Meltdown
On December 6, 2025, the DGCA placed certain FDTL provisions in abeyance for IndiGo until February 10 to allow the airline to stabilise operations. This regulatory relief followed an operational meltdown during which IndiGo cancelled 4,290 flights between December 1 and 9, citing an acute shortage of pilots to comply with the new duty time norms.
The revised FDTL rules had come into effect in November 2025, introducing stricter limits on pilot duty hours, particularly during high-fatigue early-morning periods. However, the airline struggled to adjust crew rostering and operational buffers to meet the new requirements.
IndiGo’s Pilot Strength
During a meeting with the DGCA on Monday, IndiGo stated that it currently has an “adequate” number of pilots on its rolls to operate its approved flight network without disruptions.
According to figures shared with the regulator, IndiGo will require 2,280 captains by February 10 and currently has 2,400 available, providing a buffer of 120 captains. Similarly, the airline will need 2,050 first officers and has 2,240 first officers in its workforce.
Based on these numbers, IndiGo assured the regulator that it would be able to fully comply with all FDTL provisions without resorting to flight cancellations.
“During the meeting with the DGCA on Monday, IndiGo assured operational stability and no flight cancellations after February 10, 2026, based on the current approved network, above crew strength, and the removal of the two FDTL exemptions approved on December 6, 2025,” the DGCA said in a statement on Tuesday.
Stricter FDTL Rules in Force
The DGCA’s revised FDTL framework entered its second and final phase in November 2025, bringing into force seven clauses that had earlier been deferred during the initial rollout in July 2025.
Phase II significantly tightened restrictions on how long pilots can fly or remain on duty during the “window of circadian low”—roughly between 2 am and 6 am—a period when fatigue risk is considered highest.
Under the new rules:
- Night duty is defined as any duty overlapping 12 am to 6 am in a pilot’s local time
- Flight time during night duty is capped at eight hours
- Total duty time, including pre- and post-flight tasks, is limited to 10 hours
- Pilots are generally restricted to no more than two landings during night duty
These measures are aimed at enhancing flight safety by reducing pilot fatigue.
DGCA Monitoring and Corrective Measures
The aviation regulator noted that sustained oversight and corrective steps taken by IndiGo have led to an improvement in operational stability and service reliability.
“The sustained regulatory oversight and corrective measures undertaken by IndiGo have resulted in stabilisation of operations and improvement in service reliability. The DGCA continues to closely monitor the airline’s operations, with particular emphasis on duty roster integrity, crew availability, buffer adequacy, system robustness, and adherence to FDTL requirements,” the regulator said.
However, the DGCA also pointed out that the airline’s early December disruptions were caused by mismanagement of crew, inadequate operational buffers, and shortcomings in systems, management, and operational control, which hampered implementation of the revised FDTL norms.
Government Intervention
To stabilise operations, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, in coordination with the DGCA, granted temporary operational exceptions and deployed inspectors and passenger facilitation teams at IndiGo’s Operations Control Centre and major airports from December 6 to 30.
During this period, IndiGo was required to submit daily, weekly, and fortnightly reports detailing flight cancellations, crew availability, standby utilisation, pilot strength, training and hiring plans, fleet availability, and a comprehensive corrective action plan to ensure long-term operational stability and compliance with FDTL rules.
With the February 10 deadline approaching, the DGCA has stated that it will continue close monitoring to ensure IndiGo’s commitments translate into uninterrupted operations and full regulatory compliance.