New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced that IndiGo’s exemption from certain provisions of the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) has officially lapsed. The temporary relief, granted on December 5, 2025, remained valid until February 10, 2026.

With the exemption period now over, the airline has transitioned to full compliance with the revised FDTL norms dated October 9, 2025.

The one-time relief was approved after IndiGo faced massive flight disruptions in early December 2025, affecting operations across multiple routes. The move was intended to stabilise services while ensuring passenger safety and operational continuity.

However, the exemption came with strict oversight measures. IndiGo was required to submit hourly flight operations data to the DGCA and provide weekly or fortnightly performance reports. The regulator conducted periodic review meetings to closely monitor the airline’s functioning.

In addition, DGCA officers were deployed at multiple airports to oversee passenger handling and address inconvenience during the disruption phase. Flight Operations Inspectors (FOIs) were also stationed at IndiGo’s Operations Control Centre for real-time monitoring, ensuring continuous regulatory supervision throughout the exemption period.

According to the DGCA, IndiGo has informed the regulator that all necessary operational, rostering, and monitoring arrangements have been put in place to ensure adherence to the approved FDTL framework from February 11, 2026.

The airline has reiterated that its systems are now fully aligned with the revised statutory requirements. As part of its preparedness, IndiGo has increased its crew buffer from virtually zero in December to 3 per cent in February. It has also raised its pilot-to-aircraft ratio to enhance operational resilience and reduce the risk of further disruptions.

In a statement, an IndiGo spokesperson said the airline has already integrated the revised norms into its crew planning processes.

“We would like to confirm that IndiGo has been and will always be fully compliant with any applicable version of FDTL norms; in fact, we have already integrated the new set of rules in our crew rosters and planning. As assured to the regulatory authorities earlier, we are maintaining an optimum pool of employees, including pilots, to ensure stable operations across our network,” the statement said.

The move to strengthen staffing buffers and revise crew planning comes as IndiGo transitions fully into the updated FDTL framework under close regulatory scrutiny. The DGCA’s monitoring during the exemption period underscored the regulator’s emphasis on safety, compliance, and passenger welfare.