India's largest airline, IndiGo, has formally approached the aviation regulator seeking temporary operational relaxations from specific Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) for its A320 fleet. This request comes as the carrier grapples with a severe operational disruption, leading to a sharp spike in daily flight cancellations.
Regulatory Scrutiny and the Root Cause
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) revealed the development following a high-level review meeting with IndiGo's senior leadership. The regulator stated that the airline has requested "operational variations or exemptions" from specific FDTL provisions for its A320 operations up to February 10, 2026. The primary goal is to reduce passenger inconvenience while maintaining safety standards.
DGCA pinpointed the core reasons for the breakdown: transitional challenges in implementing Phase 2 of the revised FDTL norms, gaps in crew planning, and typical winter-season constraints. The new fatigue-management rules, mandated by court orders, were rolled out in two phases on July 1 and November 1, 2025.
IndiGo admitted to the regulator that it had misjudged its crew requirements under the new FDTL regulations. This miscalculation led to significant crew shortages, particularly affecting night-time operations where most available flight slots are now concentrated.
Scale of Disruption and Passenger Impact
The operational meltdown has resulted in an alarming number of cancelled flights. The DGCA noted that cancellations have surged to approximately 170-200 flights per day, a figure substantially higher than the airline's usual operations. Passengers have been warned that cancellations are likely to persist for several more days.
DGCA inspections at major airports, including Delhi's Terminal 1, uncovered another critical failure: inadequate passenger-handling manpower to manage crowds during disruptions. The regulator has ordered IndiGo to urgently reinforce its ground staff and strengthen passenger-support services at all affected terminals.
DGCA's Directive and the Path to Normalcy
The aviation watchdog has issued a strict set of directives to IndiGo to rectify the situation. The airline must submit a comprehensive roadmap detailing its plan for recovery. Key requirements include:
- A detailed plan for crew recruitment aligned with new aircraft induction.
- A strategy for crew training and roster restructuring.
- Safety-risk assessments and immediate mitigation measures.
- An outline of immediate steps to stabilize operations and ensure a progressive reduction in cancellations.
- Fortnightly progress reports covering operational improvements, crew availability, and roster stability.
IndiGo has assured the DGCA that corrective actions are actively underway and that normalized and stable operations will be fully restored by February 10, 2026. The airline has also issued a public apology to its customers and industry stakeholders for the widespread inconvenience caused.
