IndiGo has said it is fully prepared to meet the February 10 deadline for full compliance with the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules, after strengthening its pilot workforce and building higher operational pads to avoid a repeat of the outages seen late last year. Government officials have indicated they expect minimal impact on flight operations as the temporary regulatory relaxations end.

In a statement, the airline stressed that it has already integrated the new FDTL framework into its crew list and operational planning. “We would like to confirm that IndiGo has been and will always be fully compliant with any applicable version of the FDTL rules, in fact we have already integrated the new set of rules into our crew rosters and planning,” the airline said. It added that it is maintaining an optimal pool of employees, including pilots, to ensure stable operations across its network, while reiterating its commitment to extend reliable connectivity to more than 140 domestic and international destinations.

IndiGo’s assurances come after a series of corrective measures taken over the past two months. According to a Hindustan Times report, the airline has increased its crew reserve (excess pilot capacity for minimum operational requirements) from virtually zero in December to about 3% in February. The standby pilot strength has also been increased and the pilot-to-aircraft ratio has been improved, measures intended to stabilize operations once the temporary exemptions from night duty and rest rules expire.

Data reviewed by the government shows IndiGo now deploys about seven crew teams per plane, compared with less than six during the December crisis. The airline has also expanded its pilot pool and maintained a steady recruitment pipeline to offset attrition. It hired 100 trainee first officers in January, plans to train about 20 pilots each month and brings on about 75 first officers in alternate months.

The regulator had granted temporary exemptions to IndiGo on December 6, 2025, allowing it to operate with relaxed FDTL restrictions until February 10, 2026. These relaxations were provided after the airline’s initial attempt to comply with the revised rules led to a serious operational breakdown, leading to the cancellation of more than 5,500 stranded passengers. airports

Following the disruptions, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) imposed a record penalty of ₹ 22.2 crore and initiated action against IndiGo’s senior management. A DGCA-appointed committee found widespread errors in crew scheduling, operational planning and regulatory preparation, citing over-optimization of duty rosters, inadequate buffers and system deficiencies as key factors behind the collapse.

Government officials told Hindustan Times that a review conducted on February 6 found the airline “still doing well” and that they expect minimal flight disruptions due to FDTL-related issues in the future.