Pilot body alleges granting ‘unsafe, selective’ relaxations to IndiGo under new fatigue rules

In a sharp escalation of tensions within the Indian aviation sector, the Indian Airlines Pilots Association (ALPA India) has filed a formal complaint with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), alleging that the regulatory body has granted “selective and unsafe” exemptions to IndiGo Airlines under the Revised Flight Time Limit (FDTL) norms. The association warned that this move not only violates previous guarantees, but also puts the safety of passengers at risk.

The letter submitted on Friday highlights the DGCA’s decision to allow IndiGo leeway in implementing the second phase of the new FDTL Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) — rules aimed at managing pilot fatigue by tightening working hours, rest periods and nighttime operating limits.

This came after IndiGo on Friday suspended all flights departing from Delhi until midnight, deepening the nationwide disruption that has strained its operations for several days amid internal scheduling challenges. The airline also canceled 104 flights at Mumbai airport and over 100 flights from Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru.

The aviation regulator relaxed some pilot duty standards on Friday.

According to the pilots’ body, the DGCA, during a meeting on November 24, 2025, “unequivocally agreed” not to grant any exemptions or changes to any airline, especially those driven by commercial considerations. ALPA India says the understanding was clear: FDRF standards only exist to protect lives, and any relaxation increases the risk of fatigue-related accidents.

Despite this agreement, the association claims that the DGCA has provided IndiGo with special exemptions allowing it to operate outside the safety zone stipulated in Phase II of the CAR. The airline, ALPA, claims it sought relief on the grounds of inconvenience to passengers even though it expanded its winter schedule despite knowing about the upcoming second phase.

The pilots’ authority says this disruption – which emerged more than a month after the second phase came into effect on November 1, 2025 – raises fears of an “artificial crisis” aimed at pressuring authorities for operational leniency. “All operators had nearly two years to prepare for these norms, which were implemented in two phases. However, IndiGo failed to adjust its menu and instead increased its winter operations,” the letter said.

ALPA India’s complaints center around what it calls “serious amendments” approved by the DGCA, including a relaxed definition of night operations and a doubling of permitted landings beyond night hours – from two to four hours. The association said these relaxations “fundamentally dilute the protective intent” of the fatigue rules and directly impact pilots’ alertness.

ALPA India said that by expanding what pilots call “selective multi-layered distributions”, the DGCA has effectively admitted that IndiGo pilots will now fly with less rest and increased fatigue, exposing passengers to greater risk compared to other airlines. The group warned that such selective exemptions undermine regulatory parity and set a precedent that other airlines could cite to seek similar relaxations, eroding the authority of the FDTL framework itself.

The letter lists four consequences of the DGCA’s actions:

Destruction of organizational uniformity,

– Erosion of public confidence in the impartiality of regulatory bodies.

Disclaimer of scientifically proven fatigue warranties, and

Increased risks for millions of passengers.

ALPA India has demanded immediate withdrawal of all exemptions granted to IndiGo, an investigation into what it calls IndiGo’s “artificial pilot shortage narrative”, and punitive action against the company’s management for securing safety relaxation permissions “under false pretenses”. It has also sought full enforcement of FDTL CAR Rev 2 2024 without any exceptions.

The pilots’ association concluded with a stark warning: If the exemptions are not abolished, the DGCA will bear “direct responsibility” for any fatigue-related accident, adding that the flight crew should not be blamed for the consequences made possible by regulatory leniency.

Cancellations continued to rise across the IndiGo network, with more than 400 flights canceled on Friday, and major airports experiencing major delays, news agency PTI reported. Passengers faced long queues and long wait times as the carrier struggled to stabilize operations. Chennai airport listed about 20 departures and nearly a dozen arrivals canceled as of Friday afternoon.