Centre partially withdraws new pilot duty rule after massive Indigo disruptions

Government grants temporary relaxation in pilot duty-time rules after Indigo’s massive nationwide cancellations trigger severe travel disruption.

In a significant move aimed at easing the ongoing aviation crisis, the central government has partially rolled back the newly enforced Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rule, following days of massive flight disruptions by Indigo across the country, including Bengaluru.

The decision comes after Indigo cancelled nearly 1,000 flights in just three to four days, creating unprecedented chaos for passengers. The airline had repeatedly warned that the strict FDTL limits, requiring mandatory 48 hours of rest per week for pilots, had sharply reduced pilot availability and directly triggered cancellations.

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With mounting public anger and airport congestion from stranded travellers, Indigo formally appealed to the government and the DGCA seeking temporary relief from the new rules. Responding to the crisis, the Centre has now allowed temporary exemption from the mandatory weekly 48-hour rest clause, enabling pilots to operate additional hours until further notice.

Officials stated that this partial withdrawal is expected to ease the acute pilot shortage created by the new regulations and help Indigo stabilise operations to some extent. Until now, the FDTL norms had replaced the earlier 36-hour weekly rest requirement, significantly limiting rostering flexibility.

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The government’s relaxation is seen as an attempt to bring quick relief to passengers, who have faced long delays, repeated rescheduling, and airport overcrowding over the past week. While this move is expected to “partially resolve the shortage,” authorities emphasise that gradual normalization, not an immediate fix, should be expected.