DGCA monitoring IndiGo, airlines to inform aviation body about operating 2,000 flights daily
DGCA has been monitoring IndiGo airlines ever since they were exempted from the FDTL rules. The airlines will inform the government regarding its preparations to operate 2,000 flights daily from February 10, when the exemption from the FTDL rule ends. The DGCA had imposed a fine of Rs 22.2 crore on the airlines, for the flight disruptions in December 2025. The pilots body however was not satisfied with the punishment and termed the fine amount as "peanuts".
New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is continuously monitoring IndiGo airlines, even though they have imposed a fine of Rs Rs 22.2 crore on the low-cost carrier. The deadline that the aviation regulator gave to the IndiGo airlines, to get its house in order and get more pilots, so that they are able to follow the flight duty rules, ends on February 10.
Can you operate 2,00 flights daily: DGCA asks IndiGo
The DGCA wants IndiGo to clarify whether they can operate 2,000 flights daily. They need to inform the government whether they have completed the recruitment of more pilots, who are trained in flying the A320 airbus. If the airlines has not been able to hire more pilots, then to stop a repeat of the December chaos, where hundreds of flights were cancelled and thousands of passengers left in the lurch, then the DGCA might step in and cut number of flights within a specified time, so that there is no chaos.
IndiGo had been asked to submit a weekly compliance report and the DGCA was monitoring the airlines' operations during the 3-month relaxation period under the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL). The airline has also reportedly been carrying out dry runs with its scheduling software, matching the strength of pilots it currently has with the number of flights it needs to operate.
On Monday, they may share their plan and the strength of pilots with the government. Sources said that from February 1, IndiGo will make its crew roster following the FDTL rules and without taking into account the exemption rule that is actually in place till February 10.
Pilots not happy with fine imposed on IndiGo
Meanwhile, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) have said that the fine imposed on IndiGo was not satisfactory. They described the amount that the airlines was made to pay up as "peanuts". They also questioned the probe report of the DGCA.
Captain CS Randhawa was quoted by the Times of India as saying, "The DGCA probe takes cognizance of IndiGo flight disruptions only on 3 days, from December 3 to 5, 2025. In reality however, the disruptions lasted much longer, till mid-December and the scale was also much higher."
He also questioned the lack of action and such a small fine on the airlines. He said that issuing a warning letter to the airlines after such a massive disruption, seemed like a joke, just like the meagre fine amount. He also questioned why the FDTL exemption has not been revoked, despite flight cuts by the airlines.
IndiGo meanwhile said that it will take full cognizance of the FDTL norms and said that it was now ready to comply with them. They are also reportedly reviewing the robustness and resilience of the internal process at IndiGo so that they come out stronger from the crisis which was a first in the 19 years it has operated.