IndiGo disruptions: Centre grants temporary relief to airline, orders probe into December chaos

The government on Friday announced a series of emergency measures to stabilise IndiGo’s flight operations after large-scale delays and cancellations

hit passengers in December.

A high-level review meeting was convened on December 4 by Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, with senior officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), DGCA, Airports Authority of India (AAI) and IndiGo’s top management. The minister directed the airline to “urgently normalise operations” and ensure full compliance with passenger-facilitation norms.

To ease operational pressures during the peak winter and wedding travel season, the DGCA has granted IndiGo a one-time exemption from specific Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) requirements until February 10, 2026. The regulator emphasised that the relief is temporary and does not dilute safety norms. IndiGo’s progress—especially on hiring adequate crew to restore full FDTL compliance—will be reviewed every 15 days.

With crew shortages emerging as a key constraint, the DGCA has appealed to all pilot associations to extend “full cooperation” during this period of unusually high travel demand.

In a rare move, the regulator has also allowed IndiGo to temporarily deploy pilots who were under Designated Examiner (DE) refresher training, standardisation checks, or had been posted elsewhere. Additionally, 12 Flight Operations Inspectors (FOIs) from IndiGo currently on deputation with DGCA—who are A320 type-rated with valid licences—have been permitted to resume flying duties for a week. Another set of 12 FOIs with current ratings have been released for both flight and simulator duties to support the airline.

To ensure real-time oversight, DGCA teams have been stationed inside IndiGo’s operational control centres, with regional office teams monitoring airports for delays, cancellations and passenger-handling performance.

The regulator has also constituted a four-member committee led by a Joint Director General to conduct a comprehensive probe into the circumstances that triggered the disruptions. The panel will examine operational lapses, identify accountability for failures, and assess whether IndiGo’s mitigation measures are adequate.

IndiGo, India’s largest airline, has faced mounting criticism after widespread cancellations caused significant passenger inconvenience through early December. The government’s measures signal an intensified push to bring the carrier’s operations back to stability before the peak holiday rush deepens.