IndiGo knew pilot rules for a year, X notes claim amid flight chaos

• IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers apologized for widespread flight cancellations, with over 1,000 flights cancelled on December 5.
• X Community Notes claimed IndiGo knew about revised pilot duty time limitation (FDTL) rules over a year ago, despite the airline's operational crisis.
• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced revised FDTL rules in January 2024, with phased implementation starting July 2024 and full Phase II by November 1, 2025.
• IndiGo was reportedly unprepared for the FDTL rules due to pilot shortages, cost-cutting, and inadequate hiring, leading to disruptions.
• The DGCA granted IndiGo exemptions for certain FDTL rules until February 2026 and later withdrew the weekly rest clause due to operational disruptions.

Why It Matters: IndiGo's flight cancellations expose airline's failure to prepare for pilot rest rules.