IndiGo flags pilot-duty rules as cost and capacity risk after disruption
IndiGo MD Rahul Bhatia has called for a review of stricter pilot flight-duty and rest norms, arguing they reduce cockpit productivity and raise costs. The carrier cancelled 2,507 flights over three days in December 2025, after which the DGCA directed a 10% winter-schedule reduction.
IndiGo MD Rahul Bhatia urged India to review pilot-duty rules, saying stricter FDTL norms reduce cockpit productivity and raise costs. The rules contributed to 2025 disruptions, prompting 2,507 cancellations and a DGCA-mandated 10% winter schedule cut.
Why this matters
The call follows IndiGo's push to review pilot-duty rules after disruption-led productivity losses, alongside requests for ATF tax and airport-fee cuts and a FY26 expansion that added 18,000+ flights but only 330 pilots.
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