India Infrastructure Challenges | GS3 UPSC Current Affairs

EXACT Reasons Behind IndiGo’s Current Crisis

A. IndiGo misread the new FDTL rules (Primary Cause)

1. DGCA introduced new crew duty-hour rules effective 1 November 2025.
2. IndiGo failed to correctly plan for these changes — a “wilful misreading,” as the article suggests.
3. Because of this misinterpretation, crew availability was overestimated, causing massive rostering gaps.

B. Key FDTL rule changes IndiGo did not plan for

1. Mandatory weekly rest for pilots increased from 36 → 48 hours.
2. Limit on night and early-morning landings increased from six → two per week.
3. Restricted flying hours for late-night / extended-night operations.
4. Personal leave must also fit inside the 48-hour rest window.

→ IndiGo failed to adjust schedules to these stricter rest and duty norms.