IndiGo says it’s all set for a full schedule of operations without further cancellations

In December 2025, IndiGo faced a massive meltdown, cancelling thousands of flights and leaving many people and pieces of luggage displaced in its wake. Since then, the airline has been investigated by the DGCA, India’s aviation regulator, and was recently subject to punitive action, with an INR 22 Crore fine imposed.

DGCA issues statement that IndiGo is ready for future operations

Following the meltdown, the regulator established a fact-finding committee. The regulator today said that the disruptions stemmed from mismanagement of adequate flight crew, inadequate regulatory preparedness at the operator level, and shortcomings in system software support, management structure, and operational control.

The airline’s planning processes did not adequately identify operational deficiencies or maintain sufficient operational buffers. There was an overriding focus on maximising utilisation of crew, aircraft, and network resources, which led to reduced roster buffer margins. Crew rosters were designed to operate at the limits of permissible duty periods, with increased reliance on dead-heading, tail swaps, extended duty patterns, and minimal recovery margins. This approach compromised roster integrity and operational resilience and adversely impacted the effective implementation of the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) provisions.

In view of the scale of disruption and in the interest of the travelling public, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), in coordination with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), initiated immediate stabilisation and enhanced oversight measures. Certain temporary operational exceptions were permitted strictly in the public interest to stabilise the system, without compromising safety.

IndiGo was asked to reduce its domestic flight schedule by 10% due to a lack of adequate pilots, and the carrier was also given an exceptional reversal of the old FDTL norms till February 10, 2026, allowing it to operate under the earlier night flying norms.

From December 6-30, 2025, the DGCA deployed two Flight Operations Inspectors (FOIs) along with Passenger Facilitation personnel at IndiGo’s Operations Control Centre (OCC) and at key airports. These teams oversaw day-to-day operations, monitored passenger handling, and ensured regulatory compliance during the recovery phase.

During this period, IndiGo Airlines was asked to submit daily operational reports covering critical parameters such as:

1. Flight cancellations and delays
2. Crew positioning and availability
3. Crew leave and standby utilisation
4. System performance and other operational Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

IndiGo was also asked to submit weekly and fortnightly reports:

1. On critical operational and manpower parameters
2. A detailed Corrective Action Plan (CAP) outlining measures to ensure operational stability and full compliance with revised FDTL provisions

The enhanced reporting framework covered inter alia:

1. Standby utilisation (Airbus fleet)
2. Pilot training plans and attrition forecasts
3. Pending endorsements
4. Command upgrades and First Officer hiring
5. Pilot release timelines across all categories
6. Required versus available pilot strength
7. Fleet availability, including Airbus, ATR, and wet-leased aircraft

Till date, IndiGo has submitted four weekly reports, three fortnightly reports, and has participated in weekly review meetings with DGCA, providing updated data on all critical operational parameters. As per the latest weekly review meeting held on January 19, 2026, IndiGo Airlines has reported adequate pilot availability against projected operational requirements. The required and available numbers as of February 10, 2026, are as follows:

• Airbus Commanders 2,280 Required and 2,400 Available
• Airbus First Officers 2,050 Required and 2,240 Available

During the meeting with DGCA on January 19, 2026, IndiGo assured operational stability and no flight cancellations after February 10, 2026, on the current approved network, with crew strength above the required level, and the removal of two FDTL exemptions approved on December 6, 2025. The airline is currently subject to a fine of INR 30 Lakhs (USD 36,000) per day for non-compliance with the Flight Duty Time Limitations for the day.

The DGCA further said that the sustained regulatory oversight and corrective measures undertaken by IndiGo have resulted in the stabilisation of operations and improvement in service reliability. DGCA continues to closely monitor the airline’s operations, with particular emphasis on roster integrity, crew availability, buffer adequacy, system robustness, and adherence to FDTL requirements.

Bottomline

IndiGo has committed to the aviation regulator, the DGCA, that it will be ready with its schedule of operations when the current relaxations are removed on February 10, 2026. Effective that date, the airline will be required to comply with the new FDTL requirements, which include restrictions on having the same people fly for more than 2 nights in a row.

What do you think of IndiGo’s assurances to the regulator and the general public?

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