IndiGo Fully Adopts Revised Pilot Duty Norms Following Exemption Expiry

IndiGo Commits to Stricter Pilot Duty Regulations

IndiGo, India's largest airline, has officially begun operating under the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms today, February 11, 2026. This move comes as a temporary exemption, granted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), expired on February 10, 2026. The airline has assured the aviation regulator that all necessary operational, rostering, and monitoring arrangements are in place to ensure full compliance.

Background to the Revised FDTL Norms and Exemption

The updated FDTL rules, stipulated by the DGCA in January 2024, are designed to significantly reduce pilot fatigue, thereby enhancing overall aviation safety and aligning Indian standards with global best practices. These norms were implemented in phases, with the second phase taking effect on November 1, 2025.

IndiGo faced considerable operational challenges following the full rollout of these stricter regulations in late 2025, leading to widespread flight disruptions, including numerous delays and cancellations in November and early December 2025. In response to these disruptions and to help stabilize operations, the DGCA granted IndiGo a one-time temporary exemption on December 5, 2025. This exemption provided flexibility on specific provisions related to night duty definition (Para 3.11) and tighter limits for night operations (Para 6.1.4) of the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) Section 7, Series J, Part III (FDTL) Rev 2.

During the exemption period, the DGCA maintained close oversight, requiring IndiGo to submit hourly flight operations data and weekly/fortnightly performance reports. DGCA officers were also deployed at various airports and within IndiGo's Operations Control Centre for real-time monitoring.

Key Changes in the New FDTL Regulations

The revised FDTL norms introduce several critical changes aimed at improving pilot rest and reducing fatigue, particularly during night operations:

• Increased Weekly Rest: Pilots are now mandated to receive 48 consecutive hours of rest, an increase from the previous 36 hours.
• Extended Night Duty Period: The definition of night duty has been expanded from midnight-5 AM to midnight-6 AM.
• Reduced Night Landings: The number of night landings a pilot can perform has been capped at two, down from six.
• Limited Consecutive Night Duties: Pilots are restricted to a maximum of two consecutive night duties.
• Mandatory Fatigue Reporting: Airlines are required to implement mandatory roster adjustments and submit quarterly fatigue reports to the DGCA.

IndiGo had previously indicated that it had revised pilot allowances for night operations to adapt to the new requirements. The airline's full compliance marks a significant step in the DGCA's ongoing efforts to strengthen safety standards and fatigue management practices across India's rapidly growing aviation sector.