IndiGo tells DGCA pilot strength sufficient, no cancellations expected post Feb 10

Aviation regulator DGCA on Tuesday said IndiGo Airlines has reported adequate pilot availability and assured operational stability ahead of the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) deadline next month.

IndiGo, the country’s largest airline by market share, faced major operational disruptions in early December 2025, marked by flight delays and cancellations.

The regulator had attributed the disruptions to inadequate flight crew management, insufficient operational buffers and shortcomings in planning, systems and operational control.

In a detailed review, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said IndiGo’s rosters had been designed to operate at the limits of permissible duty periods, with heavy reliance on measures such as dead-heading, tail swaps and extended duty patterns.

This, the regulator said, reduced recovery margins and affected the effective implementation of the revised FDTL norms aimed at reducing pilot fatigue.

“In view of the scale of disruption and in the interest of the travelling public, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA)... initiated immediate stabilization and enhanced oversight measures,” the DGCA said, adding that certain temporary operational exceptions were permitted strictly in public interest without compromising safety.

IndiGo was required to submit daily reports on flight cancellations and delays, crew positioning and availability, crew leave and standby utilisation, and system performance, among other operational parameters. The airline also submitted weekly and fortnightly reports on critical operational and manpower indicators, along with a detailed corrective action plan to ensure stability and full compliance with the revised FDTL norms.

According to the DGCA, IndiGo has so far submitted four weekly reports and three fortnightly reports, and has participated in weekly review meetings with the regulator.

At the latest weekly review meeting held on January 19, 2026, IndiGo reported adequate pilot availability against projected operational requirements. As per data shared with the regulator, the airline requires 2,280 Airbus commanders and 2,050 Airbus first officers as on February 10, 2026, against an available strength of 2,400 and 2,240, respectively.

During the meeting, IndiGo also assured the regulator of operational stability and said it does not expect flight cancellations after February 10, 2026, based on the currently approved network, available crew strength and the withdrawal of two FDTL exemptions that were approved on December 6, 2025.

“The sustained regulatory oversight and corrective measures undertaken by IndiGo Airlines have resulted in stabilization of operations and improvement in service reliability,” the DGCA said.