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IndiGo Assures No Flight Cancellations After Feb 10 Under New Pilot Rules

IndiGo has informed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation that it will not cancel any flights after February 10, when new flight duty time limitation rules must be implemented. The airline stated it now has the required number of pilots, with more captains and first officers on its rolls than needed. This assurance follows a ₹22.2 crore fine imposed by the DGCA for massive flight disruptions in early December that stranded over three lakh passengers. An inquiry committee found the disruptions were caused by operational over-optimization and management shortcomings.

Key Points: IndiGo Confirms No Flight Cancellations Under New FDTL Rules

  • Adequate pilot count secured
  • FDTL rules deferred to Feb 10
  • DGCA imposed ₹22.2 crore fine
  • Over 4,300 flights disrupted in Dec
2 min read

Won't cancel any flights under FDTL rules: IndiGo

IndiGo informs DGCA it has adequate pilots and will not cancel flights after February 10 when new flight duty time rules take effect.

"IndiGo assured operational stability and no flight cancellations after February 10, 2026 - DGCA"

New Delhi, Jan 20

Low-cost carrier IndiGo has informed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation that it does not plan to cancel any flights after February 10, the date from which the airline has to implement the new flight duty time limitation rules, as it now has the required number of pilots.

The DGCA had deferred the implementation of the FDTL rules for IndiGo on December 6, amid the chaotic disruption of flights that had left passengers stranded at airports across the country due to an acute shortage of pilots.

The airline had been given time till February 10 to restore normalcy in its operations.

DGCA officials held a meeting with the IndiGo management on Monday, during which the airline claimed it had an "adequate" number of pilots on its rolls to meet operational requirements under the new FDTL rules, which provide for more rest time to pilots.

The IndiGo management said that it would need 2,280 captains by February 10 and has 2,400, while it would need 2,050 first officers and has 2,240 on its rolls.

"During the meeting with the DGCA on Monday, IndiGo assured operational stability and no flight cancellations after February 10, 2026, based on the current approved network," the regulator stated on Tuesday.

The DGCA has imposed a fine of 22.20 crore rupees on IndiGo following large-scale delays and cancellations by the airline in early December last year.

During the three days of 3rd and 5th December, the airline cancelled 2,507 flights and delayed 1,852 flights caused inconvenience to over three lakh passengers stranded at various airports.

The fine was imposed following a detailed inquiry conducted by a four-member Committee constituted by the DGCA to undertake a comprehensive review and assessment of the circumstances leading to the operational disruptions of IndiGo.

The fine includes a one-time systemic penalty of 1.80 crore rupees for multiple violations of Civil Aviation Requirements and a daily penalty of 30 lakh rupees for 68 days between 5th December last year to 10th February this year, amounting to a penalty of 20.40 crore rupees.

The inquiry committee constituted by DGCA found that the primary causes for the disruption were over-optimisation of operations, inadequate regulatory preparedness, shortcomings in management structure and operational control.

The Committee observed that the airline's management failed to adequately identify planning deficiencies, maintain sufficient operational buffer, and effectively implement the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) provisions.

It was observed that this approach compromised roster integrity and adversely affected operational resilience.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good news for travelers! But the fact that they needed a massive fine and a deadline from DGCA to get their act together is concerning. Over 3 lakh passengers suffered. This shows a lack of proactive planning. Hope other airlines learn from this and prioritize operations over pure expansion.
A
Aman W
Finally some positive update! I fly IndiGo frequently for work. The December chaos was a nightmare. More rest for pilots is absolutely essential for safety. It's basic. Glad they have a buffer of pilots now. Fingers crossed for smooth travels ahead! ✈️
S
Sarah B
While it's good they claim to have enough staff, the report mentions "inadequate regulatory preparedness" and "shortcomings in management structure." That's a systemic issue a few extra pilots won't fix. DGCA needs to ensure continuous oversight, not just impose a one-time penalty.
V
Vikram M
The fine is a record, but will it really change their "over-optimisation of operations" culture? They got caught this time. The real test is maintaining these standards during peak seasons like Diwali and summer holidays. Hope the DGCA keeps a very close watch.
K
Kavya N
As a frequent flyer, I appreciate the transparency with the pilot numbers (2280 needed, 2400 available). That's a good sign. But the damage to trust is done. They need to win back customers with consistent, reliable service, not just press releases. Actions speak louder.

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