DGCA Exemptions for IndiGo Explained: How Rules Were Relaxed to Stabilise Flights

DGCA Exemptions for IndiGo Latest News

• Amid severe operational chaos and over a thousand flight cancellations, the DGCA has granted IndiGo a temporary, one-time exemption from certain night-operations provisions in the newly implemented Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules for pilots.
• The relaxation—applicable to IndiGo’s Airbus A320 fleet—will remain in force until February 10. The regulator has also approved additional measures to boost pilot availability, giving the airline short-term manpower relief.

IndiGo Meltdown Triggers Nationwide Aviation Chaos

• India’s largest airline, IndiGo, plunged into a full-blown crisis this week, crippling the country’s civil aviation system. 
• With scores of daily cancellations and over 1,000 flights cancelled on Dec 5 alone, thousands of passengers were stranded and major airports saw widespread chaos.
• As disruptions escalated, the DGCA initiated an inquiry into IndiGo’s operational collapse.
• Yet, with the situation rapidly deteriorating, the regulator also granted the airline the relief it sought—a move seen as both corrective and reluctant.

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What the DGCA’s Temporary Exemptions Mean for IndiGo

• The DGCA approved a one-time exemption from parts of the new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms for IndiGo’s Airbus A320 pilots.
• These relaxations aim to help the airline recover after being grossly unprepared for stricter crew rest requirements.

Redefining ‘Night’ to Ease Scheduling Pressure

• The DGCA allowed IndiGo to roll back the new definition of ‘night’ from midnight–6 am to midnight–5 am.
• This gives the airline more usable pilot duty hours during early mornings, where it operates many flights.

Restoring Six Night Landings Instead of Two

• Under the new FDTL norms, pilots could perform only two night landings, but IndiGo has been temporarily allowed to revert to six landings, as earlier.
• This removes a major bottleneck in IndiGo’s night-heavy network.

DGCA Releases IndiGo’s Own FOIs for Flying Duties

• Twelve IndiGo Flight Operations Inspectors deputed with DGCA were temporarily released back to the airline for flying and simulator checks, boosting short-term pilot availability.

Weekly Rest Clause Withdrawn for All Airlines

• A key clause requiring a mandatory 48-hour weekly rest (with no other leave substitutable) has been withdrawn for now.
• This relaxation applies industry-wide to prevent cascading disruptions.

IndiGo’s Obligations Under the Exemptions

• The DGCA has placed strict monitoring requirements:
  • Fortnightly review of the exemptions
  • IndiGo must submit biweekly reports on:
    • Crew utilisation
    • Steps taken to improve availability
    • Operational improvements achieved
    • Revised rostering strategies
  • IndiGo must submit a 30-day roadmap for full compliance with FDTL norms.

Backlash from Pilots and Rival Airlines

• Pilot associations sharply criticised the exemptions, arguing that IndiGo should not be rewarded for poor planning.
• Other airlines—who had spent months preparing for the new rules—are reportedly frustrated, alleging unfair advantage.
• There are also accusations that IndiGo allowed the meltdown to worsen to pressure the regulator into loosening the rules.

‘Too Big to Fail’: Why the DGCA Blinked

• With IndiGo commanding over 60% of India’s domestic market, its crisis cascaded across the entire aviation ecosystem, grounding national capacity and causing massive passenger disruption.
• Given this scale, IndiGo is effectively too big to fail.
• The DGCA and Civil Aviation Ministry found themselves between a rock and a hard place—forced to grant relief despite concerns of precedent.

Why IndiGo’s Crew Planning Collapsed Under New FDTL Rules

• IndiGo’s massive disruptions stem directly from poor preparation for the second phase of the new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms.
• According to the DGCA, IndiGo admitted that the chaos arose from “misjudgement and planning gaps”, as the airline underestimated the number of crew required under the new rest rules.
• Data submitted to DGCA showed a clear shortfall in the required number of pilots. 

Airlines Had Adequate Time, But IndiGo Lagged Behind

• The new FDTL norms—originally meant for June 2024—were delayed due to airline pushback and finally implemented after a Delhi High Court order.
• DGCA emphasised that IndiGo received repeated reminders and ample notice to prepare, but still failed to scale up crew strength.

Why the Rules Hit IndiGo Harder Than Others

• Several structural factors made IndiGo uniquely vulnerable:
  • Largest scale of operations: 400+ aircraft, 2,300 flights daily
  • High night-time and early-morning rotations
  • High aircraft and crew utilisation, leaving no buffer
  • Lean manpower model with fewer pilots per aircraft
  • Slow hiring despite knowing the upcoming FDTL changes
• Other airlines faced fewer disruptions because they operate at lower utilisation levels due to aircraft on ground (AOG), giving them extra pilot flexibility.

The Red-Eye Rules Were the Breaking Point

• IndiGo survived Phase 1 of FDTL (longer weekly rest) but Phase 2, implemented from November 1, introduced:
  • Restricted night duties
  • Tighter crew utilisation limits
  • Reduced permissible night landings
• These disproportionately affected IndiGo, which relies heavily on late-night/early-morning operations to maximise fleet utilisation.

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