IndiGo Pledges Full Compliance with Revised Flight Duty Norms by February 2026
The Ministry of Civil Aviation announced on Wednesday that IndiGo has committed to fully implement the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation norms starting February 11, 2026. This marks the conclusion of a temporary relaxation granted to the airline during a period of significant operational stress.
Background of the Temporary Exemption
In response to widespread flight disruptions in November and early December 2025, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation provided IndiGo with a one-time exemption from specific provisions of the updated FDTL framework. This relief, valid until February 10, 2026, was designed to stabilize operations after delays and cancellations across multiple stations triggered regulatory scrutiny and numerous passenger complaints.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation detailed that the exemption applied to Para 3.11 and Para 6.1.4 of CAR Section 7, Series J, Part III, as per approval dated December 5, 2025. It was granted with the explicit aim of safeguarding passenger safety and interests while restoring operational stability.
Conditions and Oversight During the Exemption Period
The temporary exemption came with stringent conditions, including:
- Submission of hourly flight operations data to the DGCA.
- Weekly and fortnightly reports on operational performance.
Throughout the exemption period, IndiGo's flight operations were subject to intense monitoring. The DGCA conducted periodic review meetings and deployed officers at various airports to oversee passenger handling and address any inconveniences. Additionally, Flight Operations Inspectors were stationed at IndiGo's Operations Control Centre for real-time monitoring, ensuring continuous regulatory oversight.
Commitment to Full Compliance
IndiGo has now informed the DGCA that it will be fully prepared to comply with the statutory provisions and implement the approved Flight Duty Time Limitation Scheme dated October 9, 2025, upon the expiry of the exemptions. The airline stated that all necessary operational, rostering, and monitoring arrangements are being established to ensure full adherence to the revised FDTL framework effective from February 11, 2026.
This commitment comes in the wake of severe operational disruptions experienced by the carrier in early December 2025, which led to intensified regulatory monitoring, deployment of officials at key airports, and a comprehensive review of crew rostering and operational resilience measures.
The ministry emphasized that the temporary relief was strictly time-bound and conditional, underscoring that full compliance with the revised FDTL norms is expected without further extensions.
