DGCA Withdrawal of Weekly Rest Rule and Its Impact on IndiGo

India’s civil aviation regulator has withdrawn its latest weekly rest instructions for flight crew, offering immediate relief to airlines struggling with large-scale disruptions. The move comes amid severe operational challenges at IndiGo, which has faced hundreds of cancellations due to manpower shortages triggered by the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms introduced in November 2025.

Why DGCA Rolled Back the Weekly Rest Instruction

The DGCA had introduced stricter FDTL rules mandating 48 consecutive hours of weekly rest without allowing leave to be counted as part of this requirement. The rule was intended to enhance fatigue management but ended up constraining rosters. Its withdrawal acknowledges the short-term strain on airline operations and aims to restore schedule stability without modifying the essential 48-hour rest mandate.

Impact on IndiGo’s Crisis and Flight Cancellations

IndiGo suffered acute crew shortages under the revised norms, leading to more than 550 flight cancellations on a single day and a drop in punctuality to around 35 per cent. The airline had requested exemptions until February 2026 to rebuild staffing and adjust rosters. With the rollback, airlines can once again use crew leave to fulfil weekly rest requirements, enabling quicker recovery of operations.

How the Change Affects Crew Rostering Practices

The reinstated flexibility allows carriers to allocate leave more effectively, stabilise schedules, and realign rosters without breaching regulations. This particularly benefits airlines with heavy night operations, where stricter limits on night duties and landings had compounded staffing shortages.

Exam Oriented Facts

• New FDTL norms came into effect on 1 November 2025.
• DGCA has withdrawn the rule restricting leave from counting as weekly rest.
• IndiGo faced over 550 cancellations on a single day due to crew shortages.
• The relief applies to all Indian airlines and supports faster roster recovery.

Sector-Wide Implications for Indian Airlines

Airlines are expected to recover more quickly from recent disruptions as they gain flexibility in assigning weekly rest. Planned short-term schedule cuts may be reduced, and recovery could accelerate beyond earlier timelines. However, long-term stability will still depend on pilot hiring, training, and continued regulatory oversight to ensure both operational efficiency and safety compliance.