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Informist, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026

 

NEW DELHI – The Directorate General of Civil Aviation told the Delhi High Court that the flight duty time limitation rules regarding weekly rest of pilots were non-negotiable and no relaxations were given to any airlines on it. However, a temporary relaxation was given to InterGlobe Aviation-operated IndiGo regarding redefined night hours for pilots, increased night landings and more flexible consecutive night duties to stabilise operations, said the aviation regulator. The move was prompted by flight cancellations and massive disruption in December due to pilot shortages, it added.

 

The high court issued notices to InterGlobe Aviation Ltd., the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and others on a petition against the aviation regulator putting the flight duty time limitation rules in abeyance till Feb. 10. The high court denied InterGlobe Aviation's request to include other airlines such as Air India, SpiceJet Ltd. and Akasa Air as the respondent parties in the case. 

 

The petitioner Sabari Roy Lenka, a former aircraft engineer, said the aviation regulator does not have the authority to keep the rules in abeyance and, therefore, the rules must come into force. The rules are meant to improve "fatigue management" of pilots, said Lenka. However, following the IndiGo debacle, the aviation regulator decided to keep the rules in abeyance till Feb. 10.

 

Last year, the aviation regulator introduced flight duty time limitation rules to improve safety by limiting the duty hours of pilots, increasing rest periods, and reducing night landings. However, InterGlobe Aviation Ltd.-operated IndiGo saw an unprecedented level of flight cancellations in December due to shortage of crew following the enforcement of the new flight duty time limitation rules. The flight cancellations led to several passengers being stranded at airports across the country.

 

Earlier this week, the high court said, "It (rules) has a direct link with the safety of the passengers. The regulator has provided some regulations. Unless it is challenged or there is some flaw, they (DGCA) need to enforce it. They (rules) have not been practically followed. They must be implemented." 

 

At 1312 IST, the shares of InterGlobe Aviation Ltd. were down 0.7% at INR 4,588.00 on the National Stock Exchange.  End

 

IST, or Indian Standard Time, is five-and-a-half hours ahead of GMT

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury

 

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