Why in 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.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• IndiGo Meltdown Triggers Nationwide Aviation Chaos
• What the DGCA’s Temporary Exemptions Mean for IndiGo?
• IndiGo’s Obligations Under the Exemptions
• Backlash from Pilots and Rival Airlines
• Why IndiGo’s Crew Planning Collapsed Under New FDTL Rules?

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.

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• Weekly Rest Clause Withdrawn for All Airlines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.