As February 10 deadline ends, IndiGo steps up pilot buffer to avoid a repeat of December crisis

The airline has raised its crew buffer from zero in December to about 3% in February and improved its pilot-to-aircraft ratio

• IndiGo raised pilot crew buffers to 3% before FDTL rule reinstatement.
• Crew sets per aircraft rose to 7.2 in February, improving operational resilience
• Officials expect minimal flight disruptions after temporary exemptions expire

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IndiGo has strengthened its pilot availability ahead of the February 10 deadline for the expiry of temporary relaxations on pilot rest norms, a move that government officials believe will limit operational disruption, Hindustan Times has reported citing people aware of the matter.

The airline has raised its crew buffer from zero in December to about 3% in February and improved its pilot-to-aircraft ratio, steps that officials say enhance operational resilience as full compliance with flight duty time limitation (FDTL) rules resumes, the Hindustan Times reported.

These measures follow a severe operational breakdown in December, when IndiGo cancelled more than 5,000 flights after breaching FDTL norms. The disruption led aviation regulators to impose a record penalty of Rs 22.2 crore and initiate accountability action against senior leadership, the Hindustan Times noted. In response to the crisis, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted temporary exemptions on December 6, allowing the carrier to operate outside night-duty restrictions until February 10.

Government officials now expect stability once the exemptions lapse. "We are expecting minimal flight disruptions due to FDTL violations," a senior official told the Hindustan Times, requesting anonymity. Another senior official said a review of IndiGo's operations was conducted on February 6 and found the airline "on track," without detailing specific corrective steps.

The expectation of smoother operations is based on updated rostering plans and aviation ministry data accessed by the Hindustan Times, which show an increase in the ratio of pilot crews to aircraft-an important indicator of an airline's ability to absorb disruptions. IndiGo has also expanded its reserve pilot pool and maintained a steady hiring pipeline to counter attrition, the report said.

Operational planning has shifted towards seven crew sets per aircraft, with the February roster reflecting about 7.2 sets, up from 7.1 in January. This is based on roughly 1,862 daily flights and an average block time of 3.99 hours per trip day, a government official told the Hindustan Times. In December, when disruptions peaked, the airline had fewer than six crew sets per aircraft, documents reviewed by the publication showed.

Further, crew buffers-surplus pilot capacity beyond the minimum needed to operate scheduled flights-have increased to 3% in February from zero in December 2025, while standby crew levels have been raised to at least 15%, according to officials quoted by the Hindustan Times. Standby pilots are used to cover last-minute absences or scheduling issues.

Aviation experts, however, caution that the adequacy of these measures will only be clear once operations are tested under the reinstated rules. Captain Mohan Ranganathan told the Hindustan Times that smooth functioning under the tougher FDTL regime would require IndiGo to consistently maintain at least seven crew sets per aircraft.

Government data shared on December 8, 2025, showed IndiGo had 5,085 pilots for a fleet of around 350 active aircraft, the Hindustan Times reported.