New Delhi: The ongoing crisis at IndiGo has triggered sharp criticism from pilots and their unions, who have warned that the government’s recent relaxation of crew rostering norms severely compromises flight safety. The unrest comes in the wake of over 1,600 flight cancellations by the airline since Tuesday, following its inability to comply with new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) that came into effect on November 1 but were first announced in January 2024.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday granted a series of concessions to IndiGo, exempting the airline’s Airbus A320 fleet from certain night-time duty hour restrictions. The regulator also permitted the airline to recall pilots who were deputed elsewhere and withdrew a rule that prevented airlines from counting leave as part of weekly rest periods to meet duty requirements. According to the DGCA, these relaxations were introduced in response to “severe operational disruptions, including massive flight cancellations and consequential passenger inconvenience.”

However, the move has drawn strong opposition from pilots, many of whom accused IndiGo of deliberately flouting the regulations and then leveraging the chaos to pressure the DGCA for exemptions. “IndiGo is a really smart airline. The management knew months in advance about the new FDTL norms, yet chose not to roster crew accordingly. It’s unfair to ask for a grace period,” said one pilot who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Instead of focusing on safe compliance, they concentrated on expanding routes.”

Capt. Sharath Panicker, a former pilot, went further, calling the airline’s actions “pre-planned manoeuvres to blackmail DGCA” and suggested imposing a fine of at least ₹100 crore for failing to adhere to mandatory safety rules. “IndiGo opposed these FDTL norms from the start, and now expects special treatment. No selective exemption should be granted,” he said.

The Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA) also expressed “profound concern” over the DGCA’s decision. In a strongly worded letter, its president, Capt. Sam Thomas, warned that granting exemptions to one airline sets a dangerous precedent. “By granting selective exemptions to IndiGo, DGCA has opened the door for all other operators to cite operational or commercial reasons to demand similar dispensations,” the letter stated. “This undermines the very principle and purpose of the FDTL Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR). Passenger safety cannot be compromised for commercial interests under any circumstances.”

The new FDTL regulations, which align with global benchmarks, were intended to reduce pilot fatigue, improve safety, and enhance working conditions. By extending weekly rest periods from 36 to 48 hours and limiting night-time landings, regulators sought to ensure that pilots are adequately rested, especially during peak winter travel periods. Yet, critics argue that the concessions granted to IndiGo effectively undo these safety measures at a time when millions of passengers are flying during the holiday season.

Aviation experts have also weighed in, noting that the DGCA’s retreat from strict enforcement sends a troubling signal to both domestic and international observers. “The FDTL rules are vital for lowering crew fatigue and improving operational safety,” said Mark D. Martin, an aviation analyst. “Retracting them, even temporarily, portrays India’s safety regulations as bendable and vulnerable to commercial pressures. Significant time was given for compliance, and bowing to pressure now damages India’s credibility in global aviation circles.”

IndiGo has defended its position, attributing the mass cancellations to “operational disruptions arising from the implementation of Phase-II of the revised FDTL regulations.” The airline’s management maintains that the concessions were necessary to stabilize flight operations and minimize passenger inconvenience. However, pilots argue that these operational challenges could have been anticipated and mitigated with proper planning.

The dispute highlights a tension at the heart of India’s aviation sector: balancing operational efficiency, commercial growth, and passenger safety. IndiGo, which commands approximately 60% of the domestic market, has long pursued an efficiency-first strategy that emphasizes aggressive capacity expansion. But the current crisis, critics argue, exposes the risks of minimizing operational slack and underestimating regulatory requirements.

“The DGCA’s selective relaxation, while understandable from a logistical standpoint, cannot override safety imperatives,” said one senior pilot. “We are flying human lives, not cargo. Any compromise on rest periods directly impacts pilots’ alertness and, ultimately, passenger safety. If a fatigue-related incident occurs, the regulator, not the pilot, will bear responsibility for permitting this relaxation.”

As the crisis continues, the DGCA has pledged to monitor IndiGo’s remedial measures closely and conduct investigations into the causes of the operational breakdown. Yet, pilots remain skeptical, warning that without stringent enforcement of FDTL norms across all carriers, the risk of accidents due to fatigue will persist.

The ongoing dispute underscores the delicate balance in aviation between regulatory compliance, airline profitability, and passenger safety. While the DGCA’s exemptions may offer temporary relief to stranded travelers, they also provoke serious questions about whether commercial considerations are being allowed to supersede internationally recognized safety standards. For now, pilots and safety advocates are united in their call for the strict application of duty-time limitations, emphasizing that no operational or commercial challenge can justify compromising the safety of passengers or crew.

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