A government-appointed committee is investigating whether budget carrier IndiGo spent crucial weeks lobbying aviation regulator DGCA for exemptions or deferrals from new flight duty rules, instead of preparing for their mandatory implementation. This alleged delay is under scrutiny as a potential key factor behind the airline's recent operational breakdown, which also impacted other carriers.
Core Focus of the Government Probe
The four-member panel will examine specific allegations that IndiGo engaged with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) until late October, seeking relief from certain clauses in the new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms. The primary request was reportedly regarding a cap on the number of night landings a pilot can perform. The committee will determine if this time should have been used to prepare for the November 1 rollout deadline.
Officials will also investigate claims that the airline wilfully did not assign duty to its crew and pilots, among other operational lapses. Furthermore, the panel will look into why DGCA officials continued to entertain IndiGo's representations despite a clear High Court order mandating the rollout of the new FDTL norms.
Software Update Delays and Roster Chaos
The delay in preparing for the new rules is also seen as a reason for the late update of the Boeing-owned Jeppesen crew rostering software. This software needed to be reconfigured according to the new FDTL requirements effective from November 1, and the committee will assess if the lobbying efforts directly impacted this critical technical update.
IndiGo's roster issuance pattern changed significantly due to the crisis. While the airline typically issues pilot rosters on the 25th of each month for the following month, for November it issued a roster for only the first half on October 29. A second roster for the remaining half was issued around November 13-14. A similar split schedule was attempted for December.
Current Measures and Future Implications
In the aftermath of the fiasco, IndiGo has resorted to issuing very short-term rosters to manage the crisis and operate as many flights as possible. This stop-gap practice is expected to continue until operations stabilize. The long-term solution depends on whether the implementation of certain provisions in the new FDTL is deferred beyond the current extension deadline of February 10, 2026.
The investigating committee, which includes DGCA officials, will also probe IndiGo's failure to report its preparedness to the regulator, a step its competitors were actively undertaking. The panel will review how the DGCA itself handled the implementation of the order following the court directive. IndiGo has chosen not to comment on these specific allegations.
