IndiGo Flight Cancellations: Government Addresses Pilot Rest Rule Confusion
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has clarified the recent changes to pilot rest rules (Flight Duty Time Limitations - FDTL) following significant flight disruptions, including the cancellation of 400 IndiGo flights. The ministry emphasized that the new FDTL rules have not been entirely suspended, but rather, temporary and specific relaxations have been granted solely to IndiGo's A320 fleet.
Limited Exemptions, Core Rules Remain
The ministry's statement aims to clear up misinterpretations that the entire FDTL regime was put on hold. According to officials, all core provisions of the FDTL, including duty hours, rest requirements, and cumulative limits, remain fully in force.
The exemptions are designed to allow IndiGo to stabilize its flight network following widespread delays and cancellations attributed to crew availability under Phase 2 of the revised FDTL norms. These relaxations are specific to IndiGoโs A320 aircraft and do not apply to other airlines or IndiGo's other aircraft types.
Specific Exemptions Granted to IndiGo
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an order granting specific FDTL exemptions to IndiGo for its A320 fleet operations until February 10, 2026. The key exemptions include:
- Definition of Night Duty: Reverted to the old definition of 12 am to 5 am, instead of the revised 12 am to 6 am.
- Operations Encroaching Night Duty: Pilots on night duty can now be rostered for more than two landings, whereas the new FDTL provision restricted it to a maximum of two landings if the pilot had already completed 10 hours of flight duty.
- Leave Substitution: IndiGo can substitute pilot leave as weekly rest.
Rules Still in Effect
Important FDTL norms that have not been exempted include:
- 48 consecutive hours of weekly rest for pilots.
- Norms pertaining to the minimum in-flight rest period for long flights.
Government Monitoring
The DGCA continues to monitor crew rosters and compliance to ensure safety standards are maintained. The ministry reiterated that the objective of these measures is to minimize disruption to passengers while upholding safety regulations.
