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India’s aviation regulator has rolled back its rule preventing airlines from substituting crew leave for weekly rest, offering immediate operational relief
as carriers struggle with staff shortages and mounting flight disruptions. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued the order on Friday, allowing airlines to temporarily use leave in place of rostered weekly rest to stabilise schedules.
Regulator Reverses Key Clause to Support Crisis Management
The fresh directive withdraws a clause from a January 2025 circular that had clearly stated: “no leave shall be substituted for weekly rest.” With airlines reporting significant operational strain over the past week—especially amid widespread IndiGo cancellations—the DGCA said the change was necessary to maintain continuity and stability in flight operations.Citing “ongoing operational disruptions and representations received from various airlines”, the DGCA noted that an immediate review of the rule was essential to prevent further cascading delays and cancellations.
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DGCA Grants One-Time Relaxation of Night-Duty Norms to IndiGo Amid Operational Crisis
The DGCA has granted a one-time conditional exemption to IndiGo, relaxing key night-duty norms to help stabilise its disrupted operations. Under the special allowance, the airline can now conduct up to six night landings and operate with extended night-duty hours, offering temporary flexibility as it works to restore normalcy across its network. The regulator clarified that the relief is strictly limited to the current operational crisis and does not amount to a permanent rule change.Order Comes Into Force Immediately
The revised instruction, approved by the competent authority, took effect the moment it was issued. Airlines can now use crew leave to meet weekly rest requirements, giving them more room to manage schedules during crew shortages.The official communication, signed by Himanshu Srivastava, Assistant Director of Operations (FSD), states:
“The instruction contained in the referenced paragraph that no leave shall be substituted for weekly rest is hereby withdrawn with immediate effect.”
The order has been circulated to all operators.
Aviation Sector Seeks Stability After Week of Disruptions
This policy rollback follows a turbulent period for Indian aviation, especially for IndiGo, which has seen hundreds of delays and cancellations across major airports, including Chennai and Hyderabad. Airlines have been struggling to maintain crew rosters, prompting appeals to the regulator for temporary flexibility.DGCA’s decision is expected to ease roster pressures and help airlines restore normal operations more quickly.
While the move offers immediate relief, industry insiders note that stabilising flight schedules may take several days. Airlines are advising passengers to monitor flight status updates closely and expect continued congestion at major airports until operations smoothen out.
