DGCA ends IndiGo’s special relief window after December disruption crisis

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday said IndiGo’s one-time exemption from key crew duty time rules had ended, with the airline set to fully comply with standard flight duty norms from February 11 after a two-month period of intensified regulatory monitoring.

The temporary waiver had come at a sensitive time for India’s largest airline, which had been grappling with a combination of factors including tight crew availability, heavy travel demand and widespread flight disruptions. This drew sharp passenger criticism and prompted heightened regulatory attention, given IndiGo’s dominant share of domestic traffic and its central role in keeping India’s aviation system running smoothly.





The aviation regulator had granted the temporary relaxation in December 2025.

The relief allowed the airline limited flexibility from certain provisions of Civil Aviation Requirements related to Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), but only until February 10 and under strict conditions aimed at protecting passenger safety and stabilising operations.

During the exemption period, DGCA kept the airline under unusually close scrutiny. IndiGo was required to share hourly flight data, along with weekly and fortnightly operational reports, while aviation officials were stationed at airports to oversee passenger handling and address inconvenience.

Flight Operations Inspectors were also deployed inside the airline’s operations control centre to monitor flights in real time — a rare step reflecting the seriousness of the disruption phase.

The regulator said IndiGo has now informed it that the airline is fully prepared to return to normal compliance with approved FDTL rules. According to the carrier, all operational, rostering and monitoring arrangements are in place to ensure it meets statutory crew duty limits going forward.