Exclusive | Airlines seek easing of new pilot duty rules, flag safety-disruption trade-off

As India’s aviation sector debates the fallout from recent flight disruptions at IndiGo, senior industry sources have criticised the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms, calling them excessively restrictive, globally unmatched, and financially burdensome.

The criticism is not limited to one carrier. A senior government official confirmed that at least three airlines have separately written to the Civil Aviation Ministry seeking relaxation in the revised norms.

“No country has such restrictive norms,” industry sources said, adding that the revised FDTL framework goes well beyond international practice.

“No country in the world has such restrictive FDTL norms. It is difficult to understand why India has chosen to go down this path,” one senior airline executive said.

The source stressed that safety is fundamental to long-term airline viability.

“It makes no sense to suggest airlines are willing to take shortcuts on safety. That is not in the airline’s interest. We are here for the long haul,” the executive said.

Another industry source described the revised norms as the strictest globally, warning that the cost implications extend beyond airlines to the broader economy.

“The revised FDTL norms are the strictest in the world, unnecessarily costly for airlines and for the country, and may not deliver the best outcome for anyone,” the source said.

What are the revised FDTL norms?

The Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms are safety regulations issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to control how long pilots can be on duty and to mandate minimum rest periods, with the objective of reducing fatigue-related risks.

Under the revised framework:

• Weekly rest for pilots has been increased from 36 hours to 48 hours.


• The definition of night duty has been expanded to cover midnight to 6 am, bringing more flights under stricter fatigue controls.


• Night operations are more tightly regulated, with only two landings permitted during night duty.


• Airlines are required to redesign crew rosters to ensure compliance with the new limits.

While pilot bodies have welcomed the changes as long overdue, airlines argue that the tighter rules significantly reduce crew availability, lower aircraft utilisation, and require a sharp increase in manpower.

The debate has now widened beyond IndiGo. A senior government official confirmed that three airlines have independently approached the Civil Aviation Ministry seeking relaxation in the revised FDTL norms.

Industry sources argue that the combination of tighter rest rules, night-duty restrictions, and limited transition flexibility could increase cancellations and reduce connectivity, especially during the winter and holiday travel seasons.

The DGCA has repeatedly stated that the revised FDTL norms are grounded in fatigue science and global best practices, and that safety cannot be compromised. Pilot unions have echoed this view, arguing that fatigue management has long been ignored in favour of aggressive scheduling.

Airlines, however, maintain that the issue is not safety versus profit, but safety versus system resilience. They argue that regulations must account for India’s high-frequency, cost-sensitive aviation model and the lack of spare capacity in the system.

The unresolved question remains: can India enforce world-class fatigue standards without triggering repeated operational disruptions in a capacity-constrained aviation market?