DGCA relaxes pilot duty rules for IndiGo amid flight crisis

• DGCA relaxed a rule prohibiting pilots from taking accumulated leave in lieu of weekly rest, addressing IndiGo's operational crisis and widespread flight disruptions.
• The decision aims to ease crew rostering difficulties faced by airlines amidst the crisis, which led to thousands of flight cancellations.
• IndiGo's issues stemmed from new FDTL regulations and inadequate crew planning, impacting passengers.
• DGCA granted IndiGo a temporary, conditional exemption allowing pilots up to six night landings instead of two, valid until Feb 10, 2026.
• This exemption is reviewed every 15 days, requires IndiGo to report on crew utilization and operational improvements, and is not a relaxation of safety standards.

Why It Matters: Regulatory changes for IndiGo could affect your future flight experiences and travel plans.