Aviation Meltdown Forces DGCA To Roll Back Weekly Pilot Rest Norm After IndiGo Cancellations
A nationwide aviation crisis erupted after IndiGo cancelled more than 1,000 flights in four days, forcing the DGCA to withdraw its new pilot-rest rule. The meltdown crippled operations at Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai, with over 600 cancellations in just 48 hours. IndiGo blamed “technical issues, congestion and weather,” but eventually admitted the collapse was caused by poor planning around new FDTL fatigue rules. The reforms, meant to protect pilots from dangerous exhaustion, were implemented two years after being announced, yet IndiGo failed to build reliable rosters. With 60% market share and 2,200 daily flights, even minor lapses turn catastrophic. On Friday, Delhi alone saw 225 cancellations; Bengaluru and Hyderabad also witnessed massive scrapping. The DGCA’s decision to roll back the rule, under pressure from disrupted airlines, has sparked debate on whether safety took a backseat during crisis management.
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