IndiGo Airline MD Critiques New Pilot Duty Regulations Following Flight Fiasco
Months after significant flight disruptions, IndiGo’s Managing Director, Rahul Bhatia, has called on the government to reconsider the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) regulations. He argues that the current rules hinder pilot productivity, inflate airline costs, and render India’s aviation sector less competitive compared to international players. IndiGo, which commanded a 66.3% share of the domestic aviation market in June, faced scrutiny from regulators following operational issues in December 2025 that resulted in the cancellation of 2,507 flights over three days.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) attributed these disruptions to several factors, including excessive operational optimization and inadequate regulatory preparedness. Following these incidents, the DGCA mandated a 10% reduction in IndiGo’s winter flight schedule. The airline received temporary relief from the revised FDTL norms until February 10.
IndiGo MD’s criticism of new pilot duty rules
Bhatia expressed his concerns about the FDTL regulations in a recent interview, stating, “I think Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) needs a review.” He emphasized the need for regulations that align with global best practices. His remarks represent one of IndiGo’s strongest public objections to the updated FDTL rules, which were implemented in November 2025 and contributed to the airline’s operational challenges during the peak travel season.
The DGCA introduced the revised FDTL rules to mitigate pilot fatigue, extending mandatory weekly rest from 36 hours to 48 hours and imposing stricter limits on night operations. While pilot associations have supported these changes as necessary for safety, airlines argue that they lead to increased staffing needs and operational costs. Bhatia noted that the current policy has diminished cockpit productivity, making Indian airlines less competitive on a global scale. He stated, “It directly impacts the cost structure,” and added that airlines are not advocating for lower safety standards but rather for regulations that are consistent with international norms.
In its 2025-26 annual report, IndiGo highlighted that the revised crew rostering regulations posed operational challenges during peak travel times, resulting in delays and service disruptions. As of March 2026, InterGlobe Aviation Ltd, which operates IndiGo, employed 41,907 people, including 5,786 pilots and 11,203 cabin crew members, operating over 2,100 flights daily with a fleet of more than 400 aircraft.
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