New Delhi, Dec 5 (UNI) The Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Friday withdrew the order on pilot working hours that had caused major disruptions in flight schedules, resulting in significant delays and cancellations across the country.
The aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced the withdrawal of a key proviso related to leave and weekly rest days contained in its earlier circular.
The move by the regulator comes after widespread operational disruptions since the rule’s implementation in the last week of November, coupled with representations from airline operators
IndiGo, India’s largest airline, has been the worst hit. Over 750 flights were cancelled nationwide on Friday, following more than 550 cancellations the previous day.
The airline called off all 235 flights at Delhi airport, while operations at Chennai are expected to remain affected until 6 pm.
Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad have also experienced significant disruptions. The airline attributed the chaos to a shortage of pilots compounded by the pressures of the winter schedule.
IndiGo has requested partial relaxations of the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules to stabilize operations, noting that full compliance is unlikely before February 2026. Sources indicate that all 235 Delhi flights will remain cancelled until midnight on Saturday.
DGCA withdraws pilot working hours order after widespread flight disruptions
