IndiGo’s waivers on pilot rest periods (Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL)) expire today. The airline was granted temporary exemptions after compliance with FDTL norms led to an operational collapse that led to the cancellation of over 5,500 flights, leaving around 3 lakh passengers stranded at airports. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) penalized the airline with Rs 22.2 crore for its operational collapse.

According to a report in Hindustan Times, IndiGo has increased its crew buffer from zero in December to 3 percent in February, as well as increasing its pilot-to-aircraft ratio. Government officials told the newspaper that they expect minimal flight disruptions due to FDTL violations and that a review of the airline showed they were on track.

IndiGo’s listing plans have shown it has increased its pilot-to-aircraft crew ratio, while expanding its reserve pilot strength and maintaining a recruitment pipeline to offset attrition, the paper said. There are seven crew teams per aircraft, based on “1,862 daily flights and one block per travel day of 3.99 hours,” an official told the newspaper. In December, when the airline faced the crisis, it had fewer than six crew teams per jet.

According to the report, crew buffers representing excess pilot capacity beyond the minimum requirement for scheduled flights have also been increased to 3%.

The airline had hired 100 first officer trainees in January and plans to train 20 pilots a month and about 75 first officers in alternate months.

WHY DID THE DGCA FINED INDIGO?

The DGCA took enforcement action against IndiGo and its top management after a regulatory probe found multiple violations that led to widespread flight disruptions. The regulator imposed a total penalty of Rs 22.20 crore and ordered systemic reforms, citing lapses in crew scheduling, operational control and regulatory compliance.

A four-member committee appointed by the DGCA found that IndiGo canceled 2,507 flights and delayed another 1,852, marking one of the most disruptive episodes in Indian civil aviation. The investigation identified over-optimization of operations, inadequate regulatory preparation, system software deficiencies and management deficiencies as key causes.

The investigation reported that IndiGo failed to maintain sufficient operational buffers while transitioning to the revised FDTL norms. Crew rosters were structured to maximize duty periods, with greater reliance on deadhead, tail swaps, extended duty patterns and minimal recovery margins, leaving the airline vulnerable to cascading disruptions.

Senior management was criticized for not foreseeing the impact of the 2025 winter timetable or implementing the new FDTL provisions in a timely manner. The DGCA responded by issuing warnings and initiating action against key officials of InterGlobe Aviation, the parent company of IndiGo.

The regulator issued a warning to the CEO for inadequate oversight of flight operations and crisis management. The manager in charge and the head of operations were cautioned for failing to assess the implications of winter time and the revised duty time regulations.

Most tellingly, the senior vice president of the Operations Control Center (OCC) was relieved of operational responsibilities and ordered not to be assigned a responsible position, citing failures in systemic planning and delay in compliance. Warnings were also issued to the deputy chief of flight operations, AVP crew resource planning and the director of flight operations for failures in manpower planning and roster management.