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crew rostering

IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet Flag DGCA’s Revised FDTL Framework As More Restrictive SEO DES: In a letter to DGCA, the FIA sought globally harmonised, evidence-based norms, saying fatigue should be managed via flight duty period, not flight time SOCIAL: India’s major airlines, through the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), have urged the DGCA to revise new FDTL and cabin crew rest norms, calling them more restrictive than global standards and operationally disruptive. The carriers argue the rules limit rostering flexibility, contributed to flight disruptions after enforcement in late 2025, and should focus on flight duty period rather than flight time. While the DGCA maintains strict compliance for safety, airlines continue to seek globally aligned, practical fatigue management norms. Delhi, India: India’s leading airlines, including IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet, have raised strong objections to newly implemented Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) and cabin crew rest norms, claiming the rules are more restrictive than global standards and could disrupt flight operations, according to a report by PTI. The carriers, through the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), have written to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) requesting reconsideration of certain provisions, arguing that the framework limits flexibility in crew rostering, particularly during peak travel periods. Industry insiders warn that stringent compliance could affect domestic flight schedules and hinder operational efficiency. “While we fully support the objective of ensuring crew safety, some of the proposed restrictions are operationally challenging and do not align with global fatigue management practices,” the FIA said in a letter to the DGCA dated January 12. In this letter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) called for “globally harmonised, evidence-based and operationally practical provisions” in the final norms. The FIA emphasized that flight duty period, rather than flight time, should be the primary measure used to manage daily cabin crew fatigue. “Duty and rest limits may focus on Flight Duty Period and minimum rest periods, avoiding cumulative caps or direct linkage to the number of landings,” the FIA said in the letter, as reported by PTI. The airlines’ opposition highlights the real-world impact of these rules. By November 1, 2025, stricter FDTL norms were enforced, leading to operational disruptions in December that contributed to widespread IndiGo flight cancellations and delays, in which they had to adjust pilot and crew rosters to comply with new duty hour limits. Airlines argue that the regulatory framework, while well-intentioned, does not adequately account for the operational realities of India’s high-frequency domestic market, potentially creating a mismatch between safety compliance and service reliability. After granting temporary exemptions to IndiGo for night duty adjustments in late 2025, the DGCA confirmed that all carriers must now fully comply with the revised rules as of February 2026. Failure to adhere could result in regulatory scrutiny and enforcement action. The DGCA has also reiterated to the Delhi High Court that weekly pilot rest norms remain mandatory, maintaining the regulator’s firm stance on crew fatigue management. With stricter FDTL rules now fully in effect, India’s aviation sector faces a delicate balance between operational efficiency and safety compliance. While regulators emphasize safety as the top priority, airlines continue to lobby for adjustments that better reflect international practices and operational realities.

IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet Flag DGCA’s Revised FDTL Framework As More Restrictive

Aviation Today News Desk / February 13, 2026

Delhi, India: India’s leading airlines, including IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet, have raised strong objections to newly implemented Flight Duty […]

New Delhi, India: India’s largest airline IndiGo has announced a significant revision of pilot allowances, effective January 1, 2026, in an effort to address morale issues, strengthen retention and ensure smoother flight operations following widespread cancellations earlier this month. The allowance revisions were communicated in an internal email sent to IndiGo’s pilots by Ashim Mittra, Senior Vice President for Flight Operations, outlining the updated pay and allowance structure. It increases key components of pilot compensation across a range of duty types, including domestic layovers, deadhead travel, night flying, transit stops and tail‑swap operations. Under the revised structure: Domestic layover allowances for stays between 10:01 and 24 hours have been raised by about 50% captains will receive ₹3,000 (up from ₹2,000) and first officers ₹1,500 (up from ₹1,000). Deadhead travel allowances paid when pilots reposition as passengers have increased to ₹4,000 for captains and ₹2,000 for first officers. Night flying compensation has been standardised to a fixed payment of ₹2,000 per hour for captains and ₹1,000 for first officers. Tail‑swap allowance, a new category for duties involving a change of aircraft mid‑duty, has been introduced at ₹1,500 for captains and ₹750 for first officers. Transit allowances for extended ground halts beyond 90 minutes have also been adjusted upwards. The revisions come after a turbulent December, during which IndiGo cancelled thousands of flights, leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded amid challenges in crew rostering under stricter Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms. According to industry reports, the airline’s failure to sufficiently staff pilots in anticipation of the new regulations led to widespread operational disruptions. In response, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered a reduction in IndiGo’s winter schedule and has been engaged in ongoing regulatory oversight. IndiGo, which employs roughly 5,000 pilots and controls around 65% of India’s domestic market, has faced criticism from some pilot groups and aviation analysts for fatigue‑linked rostering pressures and competitive hiring practices by foreign carriers. While the airline has not publicly commented on the revisions, industry experts say the allowance uplift represents a strategic move to stabilise operations ahead of the peak travel season and improve pilot retention amid intensified competition. Regulatory sources indicated that the airline’s leadership has held dialogue with pilot representatives at several operational bases in recent weeks.

IndiGo Raises Pilot Allowances As Airline Addresses Crew And Rostering Pressures

Aviation Today News Desk / December 30, 2025

New Delhi, India: India’s largest airline IndiGo has announced a significant revision of pilot allowances, effective January 1, 2026, in

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