The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a status update regarding the one-time temporary exemptions granted to IndiGo Airlines under specific provisions of the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) related to Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL).
The exemptions, covering Para 3.11 and Para 6.1.4 of CAR Section 7, Series J, Part III (FDTL), Revision 2, were granted on 05 December 2025. The relief was provided in response to significant flight disruptions experienced by IndiGo during the initial days of December 2025. The temporary approval was valid for a limited period up to 10 February 2026 and was aimed at stabilising operations while safeguarding passenger safety and public interest.
Conditions and Oversight
The DGCA clarified that the exemptions were subject to strict regulatory conditions. IndiGo was required to submit hourly flight operations data and provide weekly or fortnightly performance reports to the regulator.
During the exemption period, the airline’s operations were closely monitored through periodic reviews. DGCA officers were deployed at multiple airports to oversee passenger handling and address inconvenience faced by travellers. Additionally, Flight Operations Inspectors (FOIs) were positioned at IndiGo’s Operations Control Centre to enable real-time monitoring of flight movements and ensure continuous regulatory supervision
Return to Full Compliance
According to the update, IndiGo has informed the DGCA that it is fully prepared to comply with the statutory FDTL provisions upon expiry of the temporary relaxation. The airline confirmed that all operational, rostering, and monitoring arrangements have been put in place to implement the approved FDTL scheme dated 09 October 2025.
The revised FDTL framework comes into effect from 11 February 2026, marking the end of the temporary exemption period.
The DGCA reiterated that passenger safety and regulatory compliance remain paramount, and that all measures taken during the exemption window were subject to close oversight to ensure operational integrity.
