National Desk
6 December
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
Journalist & Research Analysist
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has eased the flight duty rules by allowing airlines to convert crew leave into weekly rest periods. This change has been made to help airlines manage their operations smoothly, especially after the recent crisis faced by IndiGo.
DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai requested all pilots to cooperate so that flight schedules run on time. He said that delays are causing a lot of trouble for passengers, and immediate support from pilots and airlines is important to avoid further disruptions.
Earlier, the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules clearly stated that no crew leave could be converted into weekly rest. Because of this rule, many airlines, including IndiGo, struggled to manage staffing. As a result, IndiGo had to cancel a large number of flights, affecting thousands of travelers.
According to sources, the DGCA has now withdrawn the earlier order that restricted airlines from converting leave into weekly rest under FDTL. With this relaxation, airlines are expected to get better flexibility in scheduling crew duty and rest hours.
Officials believe this step will help stabilize operations and reduce flight cancellations. The aviation regulator aims to ensure smoother flight services and better passenger experience in the coming days.