DGCA Reinforces Weekly Rest Requirements for Pilots Amid Legal Challenge

Original: Airlines cannot bypass weekly rest for pilots, DGCA tells HC

Hindustan Times•Apr 4, 20263 min

In a Nutshell

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) clarified to the Delhi High Court that airlines cannot bypass mandatory weekly rest for pilots despite a recent decision allowing the counting of earned leave as rest. This follows concerns over flight disruptions and aims to stabilize airline operations while ensuring compliance with revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms.

Key Points

01DGCA's clarification ensures airlines adhere to mandatory weekly rest for pilots.
02Revised FDTL norms increased weekly rest from 36 to 48 hours.
03The decision to allow counting earned leave was made to address flight disruptions.
04Airlines remain responsible for compliance with all regulatory provisions.
05The case has been adjourned to July 29 due to time constraints.

In-Article Ad

Full Summary

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has confirmed to the Delhi High Court that airlines must adhere to mandatory weekly rest for pilots, despite a recent policy change allowing the counting of a pilot's 48-hour earned leave as part of that rest. This clarification comes after the DGCA's December 5, 2025, decision aimed to address operational challenges faced by airlines, particularly following disruptions in IndiGo's flight schedules. The revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms, effective from November 1, 2025, increased weekly rest from 36 to 48 continuous hours, expanded night duty hours, and limited consecutive night duties. The DGCA emphasized that airlines are fully responsible for compliance with these regulations, and the withdrawal of the advisory was communicated to all operators to stabilize operations and minimize passenger inconvenience. The case, initially brought by former aircraft engineer Sabari Roy, was adjourned to July 29 due to time constraints in court.

Key Figures

48 hours

Increased weekly rest for pilots

36 hours

Previous weekly rest duration before the revision

July 29

Next court hearing date

In-Article Ad

Why It Matters

This decision ensures that pilots receive adequate rest, which can lead to safer flight operations and reduced flight cancellations, benefiting passengers.

Who is affected

Passengers and airline staff, particularly pilots.

What to know

Airlines must ensure compliance with the DGCA regulations to avoid operational disruptions.

FAQ

The revised FDTL norms increased weekly rest for pilots from 36 to 48 hours, expanded night duty hours, and limited consecutive night duties.

The advisory was withdrawn to prevent flight disruptions and stabilize airline operations while ensuring compliance with mandatory weekly rest requirements.

✦