India’s civil aviation ministry has put a major pilot-rest regulation on hold after widespread disruptions at IndiGo triggered one of the country’s largest aviation breakdowns in recent years. The suspension comes amid mounting evidence of an acute crew shortage and growing unrest within the airline’s pilot workforce.
The new rule, part of updated Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms, was expected to enforce longer mandatory rest periods for pilots beginning June. Regulators introduced the change to tackle fatigue, a long-standing safety concern in the aviation industry. But the government abruptly withdrew the regulation on Friday, acknowledging that carriers were not prepared to meet the requirements without causing massive operational fallout.
The reversal follows several days of cancellations at IndiGo, India’s biggest airline by market share. More than 80 flights were grounded in a single day earlier this week, with the total number of cancelled flights stretching into the 1000 as disruptions carried into Thursday and Friday. Tens of thousands of passengers were left scrambling for alternate travel, refund options, or overnight accommodation at crowded airports.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu described the situation as “chaotic,” saying the government had no choice but to temporarily suspend the rule to prevent further disruption. He insisted, however, that safety standards were not being compromised. “The FDTL changes have only been kept in abeyance,” he said, calling the step a temporary measure.
At the heart of the crisis is a wave of sick leave among IndiGo pilots that industry analysts view as a coordinated protest. Reports from multiple outlets indicate that pilots have raised concerns about excessive duty hours, an increasingly strained roster system, and what they describe as a punitive work environment. Many allege pressure to operate flights even when unwell or fatigued, prompting widespread pushback in the form of mass absenteeism.
The government has asked IndiGo to formally explain the disruptions, with Minister Naidu warning that penalties are likely. “Action will be taken – not ‘may’ be taken,” he emphasized.
The fallout has extended to India’s financial markets as well. Shares of InterGlobe Aviation, IndiGo’s parent company, dropped nearly 5% as investors reacted to the escalating crisis and renewed scrutiny of the carrier’s internal management.
Passengers, meanwhile, have borne the brunt of the turmoil. Long queues formed at major airports, with many travelers stranded overnight or forced into costly last-minute rebooking. Complaints about delayed refunds and inadequate customer support added to the frustration.
In response, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has opened an inquiry into IndiGo’s crew-rostering practices and its compliance with existing fatigue-mitigation rules. Officials say the suspended FDTL norms will be revisited once airlines demonstrate readiness to implement them without jeopardizing operations.
Despite the turbulence, the aviation ministry maintains that pilot wellbeing remains central to long-term safety. The government is expected to propose a revised rollout timeline for the FDTL rules once the immediate crisis stabilizes and airlines begin hiring additional crew.
As the travel sector enters the busy holiday season, all eyes remain on how quickly IndiGo – responsible for more than 60% of India’s domestic air traffic – can restore reliability and address the workforce concerns that have pushed its operations to the breaking point.
