In a bid to contain the escalating crisis, DGCA issued a fresh notification granting partial relief on flight crew duty norms, specifically relaxing a rule that prevented airlines from combining leave with weekly rest periods
The government said that it was closely tracking IndiGo’s operational recovery. Representational Pic/File/iStock
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday eased certain pilot duty regulations with immediate effect after low-cost carrier IndiGo experienced a major staffing shortfall, leading to the cancellation of hundreds of flights nationwide, reported the IANS.
In a bid to contain the escalating crisis, the aviation regulator issued a fresh notification granting partial relief on flight crew duty norms, specifically relaxing a rule that prevented airlines from combining leave with weekly rest periods.
Referring to its earlier directive stating that “no leave shall be substituted for weekly rest”, the DGCA noted, “In view of the ongoing operational disruptions and representations received from various airlines regarding the need to ensure continuity and stability of operations, it has been considered necessary to review the said provision,” according to the IANS.
Accordingly, the regulator confirmed that the instruction prohibiting leave from being substituted for weekly rest “is hereby withdrawn with immediate effect”.
The fallout from IndiGo’s cancellation of nearly 500 flights was felt in Parliament on Friday, where opposition MPs accused the airline of engaging in “monopolistic practices” and criticised the government for “regulatory laxity”.
Earlier in the day, Delhi Airport issued a new passenger advisory announcing that all IndiGo domestic departures from the airport had been cancelled until midnight.
“IndiGo domestic flights departing from Delhi Airport on December 5, 2025 are cancelled until 23:59 hours. Operations for all other carriers remain as scheduled,” the advisory said, as per the IANS.
IndiGo recorded 1,232 cancellations across its network in November alone.
The government said that it was closely tracking IndiGo’s operational recovery and passenger support arrangements until full stability could be restored.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation expressed serious concern over the recent wave of disruptions and cancellations. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu chaired a high-level review meeting with IndiGo’s senior management, attended by the Civil Aviation Secretary, the DGCA, senior ministry officials and representatives of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the news agency reported.
Minister Naidu conveyed strong dissatisfaction with the way the airline had handled the situation, stressing that it had been given ample preparation time to ensure a smooth transition to the updated regulatory requirements.
He directed IndiGo to restore operations urgently, ensure fares do not rise as a consequence of the disruption, and proactively inform passengers of any potential cancellations well in advance. The airline was also instructed to provide all requisite facilities — including hotel accommodation where necessary — to minimise passenger inconvenience, reported the IANS.
(with IANS inputs)
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
