DGCA Relaxes Pilot Duty Rules as IndiGo’s Massive Staff Shortage Disrupts Flights Nationwide

December 5, 2025

New Delhi: India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), on Friday announced immediate relaxation of some pilot duty rules after IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, faced a major staff shortage that led to hundreds of flight cancellations across the country.

To help control the fast-growing crisis, the DGCA issued a new notification giving partial relief on Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) rules. One of the key changes is the withdrawal of a clause that prevented airlines from “clubbing leave with weekly rest”.

Under the earlier rule, pilot weekly rest could not be replaced with any type of leave. But due to the ongoing crisis, the DGCA said it had to reconsider this restriction.

“In view of the ongoing operational disruptions and representations received from various airlines regarding the need to ensure continuity and stability of operations, it has been considered necessary to review the said provision,” the DGCA said in its order.

Therefore, the instruction that “no leave shall be substituted for weekly rest” has been withdrawn with immediate effect, offering airlines more flexibility in managing pilot schedules.

Parliament Reacts as IndiGo Cancels Hundreds of Flights

The large-scale disruption caused by IndiGo’s cancellations—nearly 500 flights on Friday alone—quickly reached Parliament. Opposition members accused IndiGo of “monopolistic practices” and blamed the government for “regulatory laxity”. They argued that the airline, which holds over 65% of India’s domestic market, has grown too dominant, and its operational failure has affected passengers across the country.

Airports saw long queues, confused travellers, and delays throughout the day as cancellations increased. Several passengers also complained about poor communication from the airline.

Delhi Airport Issues Strong Emergency Advisory

Earlier in the day, Delhi Airport released a fresh advisory, informing passengers that all IndiGo domestic flights departing from the airport were cancelled until midnight.

“IndiGo domestic flights departing from Delhi Airport on 5th December 2025 are cancelled till midnight today (till 23:59 hours). Operations for all other carriers remain as scheduled,” the advisory stated.

This was one of the biggest single-day cancellations for any airline at Delhi Airport in recent years.

IndiGo’s troubles had been building for weeks. In November alone, the airline reported 1,232 cancellations across its network—already a record high before December’s meltdown.

Government Steps In: High-Level Meeting and Strict Instructions

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has said it is closely monitoring IndiGo’s operational recovery and the measures taken to support affected passengers. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu chaired a high-level review meeting with IndiGo’s top management. The meeting was also attended by senior officials from the ministry, the DGCA, and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

According to officials, Minister Naidu expressed strong displeasure at how IndiGo handled the situation. He pointed out that the airline had enough time to prepare for the new pilot duty rules, yet still failed to ensure a smooth transition.

The minister issued several clear directives to IndiGo:

• Normalise operations urgently

• Do not increase airfares due to the crisis

• Inform passengers early about any possible cancellations

• Provide all necessary facilities, including food and hotel accommodation, when required

• Improve communication and passenger care at airports

He also instructed the airline to ensure that passengers do not face sudden last-minute shocks and that refunds or rebooking options are handled smoothly.

With this emergency relaxation of rules by the DGCA and pressure from the central government, IndiGo is now working to rebuild its schedule. The situation remains fluid, but the regulator and the ministry have said they will continue monitoring developments until operations return to normal.