The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) withdrew its instructions for weekly rest for crew members on Friday, December 5. The withdrawal came amid IndiGo’s operational crisis, which has led to hundreds of cancellations this week.
The airline had asked for exemptions from the new pilot rest and duty norms till February 10, 2026, arguing that this would give it more time to stabilise operations and hire pilots and crew.
The DGCA’s decision addressed the operational disruptions caused by the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules, which came into effect from November 1, 2025.
The new FDTL norms required 48 consecutive hours of weekly rest.This led to crew shortages and over 550 IndiGo flight cancellations on Thursday alone.
The rule, which was later withdrawn, had restricted airlines from counting pilot leave as weekly rest. Companies can now substitute leave, when needed, to stabilise schedules.
The change responds to airline pleas amid stricter norms without altering the core 48-hour rest requirement. The rules had also limited night landings and duties to counter pilot fatigue.
DGCA confirmed the withdrawal to all operators. The move comes as a temporary relief for carriers like IndiGo, which were facing punctuality drops to 35%.
IndiGo can now count pilot leave as a part of the mandatory 48-hour weekly rest. This will help ease crew shortages and allow faster roster realignments to cut cancellations.
The decision may lead to changes in short-term cuts that were planned through December 8. It can speed up recovery beyond the February 10, 2026, target mentioned earlier. However, full stability depends on hiring and scheduling tweaks.
Airlines will not face violations if they substitute leave for weekly rest. This can improve flexibility for IndiGo’s night-heavy operations, which were under strain due to limits on duties and landings.
The directive is applicable to all airlines. It will lead to faster crew realignments and reduce cancellations. The broader stability of the airline sector will depend on hiring and DGCA oversight.
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