The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday withdrew its recently introduced instruction that barred airlines from substituting weekly rest with accrued leave for pilots and cabin crew. The decision comes amid mounting operational disruptions — especially by IndiGo — that have resulted in hundreds of flight cancellations across India over the past several days.
The DGCA announced that it is revoking the clause requiring mandatory uninterrupted rest for crew “with immediate effect”. The regulator said it took this decision after airlines reported severe operational challenges, staff shortages, and roster instability.
For airlines, the rollback offers breathing space to recalibrate rosters and resume flights. For passengers, it may spell quicker return to normal flight schedules. But aviation experts warn that easing rest norms undermines the very objective of the updated Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) — introduced to reduce pilot fatigue.
This move also raises broader questions about whether airlines had underestimated the challenges of complying with stricter safety-centric regulations. Critics warn that this decision creates a worrying precedent, arguing that once authorities bend new norms under pressure, re-enforcing them later becomes far more difficult.
As DGCA and airlines scramble to stabilise operations, passengers — many stranded for days — can only hope services are restored soon without compromising safety standards.
