India’s aviation sector has been thrust into turmoil after days of mounting cancellations and operational failures at IndiGo, the country’s largest airline. As flight disruptions widened into a national crisis, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday announced a rollback of newly implemented Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), offering temporary relief to the overstretched carrier. The decision, which the regulator described as a “temporary one-time extension,” marks a notable departure from its earlier stance on tightening rest norms for pilots to address long-standing concerns around fatigue and aviation safety.

The revised FDTL norms had come into effect on November 1 with the intention of reinforcing safety protocols, especially in the aftermath of global discussions around pilot exhaustion, mental wellness, and operational pressures in commercial aviation. One of the most significant requirements under the new framework was that “no leave shall be substituted for weekly rest,” ensuring pilots received both rest periods and leave independently. The measure aimed to prevent airlines from bypassing mandated rest by reclassifying leave, thereby addressing chronic concerns that crew fatigue posed increasing risks in a rapidly expanding aviation market.

However, after a week of cascading delays and cancellations—IndiGo alone has scrapped over a thousand flights since Tuesday—the DGCA has stepped back, acknowledging that carriers are presently unable to cope with the operational strain imposed by the new guidelines. In its internal communication dated December 5, the regulator cited “ongoing operational disruptions” and multiple industry appeals for flexibility as key reasons behind the rollback. The DGCA said the temporary relaxation was necessary to maintain continuity and stability in flight schedules, especially during a peak travel window marked by holiday rush, wedding season demand, and the onset of winter fog across northern India.

According to DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the aviation ecosystem is under “significant strain,” with disruptions exacerbated by operational constraints, unpredictable weather, and heavy passenger loads. In his letter, Kidwai expressed concern about increasing delays, widespread passenger inconvenience, and mounting pressure on airlines already struggling to maintain reliability. The regulator also emphasized that the weeks ahead are likely to pose even greater challenges as airports prepare for dense fog, congested runways, and high-traffic conditions typical of December and January.

In an appeal addressed to pilot bodies, associations, and individual pilots across the country, the DGCA urged the aviation community to extend full cooperation to stabilize operations and mitigate disruptions. It stressed that improved coordination between pilots and airline operations teams is “indispensable” to prevent further delays and cancellations at a time when passenger volumes are surging. The regulator’s letter underscored the essential role of pilots in ensuring safety, reliability, and continuity of air travel, while also acknowledging their professional responsibilities and the public service nature of their work.

Despite the conciliatory tone of the DGCA’s appeal, the rollback has prompted intense reactions from within the aviation sector. Several industry experts argue that the regulator’s decision risks undermining pilot welfare, safety standards, and international confidence in India’s aviation oversight. Mark Martin, a prominent aviation analyst, called the move “a clear capitulation to airline pressure,” adding that such an action was “extremely unbecoming” of a regulator in one of Asia’s largest aviation markets. Martin warned that, following the AI 171 crash, Indian civil aviation is already under heightened global scrutiny, and diluting a “well-structured safety regulation on crew fatigue” could draw backlash from pilot unions, global watchdogs, and safety advocacy groups.

The DGCA, however, reiterated in its communication that it remains fully committed to enforcing FDTL norms “in letter and spirit” once the immediate crisis subsides. The regulator framed the relaxation not as a policy reversal but as a pragmatic intervention to prevent further deterioration of flight schedules and to reduce the cascading effect on airport operations across the country. It added that the temporary measure must be understood in the context of extraordinary operational challenges, and that safety provisions will continue to guide future regulatory decisions.

IndiGo’s troubles began escalating earlier in the week, triggered by a confluence of weather issues, winter congestion, aircraft maintenance advisories, and the pressures imposed by the updated FDTL norms. A significant percentage of the airline’s crew reportedly entered compulsory rest windows under the new rules at the same time that IndiGo was operating an expanded winter schedule introduced on October 26. The imbalance between operational demand and available crew caused scheduling bottlenecks, which worsened when delays extended into late-night hours, pushing pilots beyond their allowable duty time. The ripple effect was immediate: hundreds of flights were grounded as rosters could no longer be legally aligned, forcing the carrier to cancel services on a scale not seen in recent years.

As India’s largest airline by fleet and market share, IndiGo’s failure created a national crisis. Airport terminals in Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and several Tier-II cities witnessed wave after wave of chaos as cancellations mounted. Passengers spent hours standing in queues without updates, with some reporting that they were not informed of cancellations until reaching the airport. Others described waiting through the night in terminals, only to have flights formally cancelled at dawn. Videos circulated on social media showed crowded airport halls, fraying tempers, and overwhelmed airline counters unable to manage the growing frustration.

The DGCA’s decision to step in reflects the urgency of stabilizing the situation. With airports preparing for heavy fog disruptions starting mid-December, and with holiday and wedding-season travel peaking simultaneously, the risks of continued operational collapse are high. The regulator stressed that without temporary flexibility, the strain on crew scheduling could result in even more cancellations, threatening the broader reliability of India’s aviation network.

Nonetheless, pilots and unions have expressed concern that easing FDTL restrictions sets a troubling precedent. Fatigue has long been recognized as a critical factor in aviation safety, with international regulators tightening rules to prevent overwork. The DGCA’s earlier reforms were in line with global best practices, and retracting them—even temporarily—has raised concerns that economic pressures may be overriding safety considerations.

As the sector braces for the weeks ahead, the challenge for the DGCA will be to balance operational continuity with the uncompromising safety standards expected from a modern aviation regulator. For IndiGo, the priority remains restoring reliability, rebuilding public trust, and addressing the structural staffing issues that left the carrier vulnerable to regulatory shifts. For millions of passengers preparing to travel during one of the busiest seasons of the year, the hope is simply that the skies remain safe, stable, and predictable once more.