Air India and IndiGo, two of India's leading airlines, have formally expressed their opposition to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's (DGCA) recent proposal aimed at reducing night flying hours for pilots. This proposal, intended to combat pilot fatigue, has sparked a significant debate on operational efficiency versus crew well-being. The DGCA's proposal, announced in January 2024, seeks to extend the night period from the current midnight to 5 AM window to include 6 AM, thereby redefining what constitutes night flying.
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This would effectively reduce the number of night flights pilots can operate, limiting them to two consecutive nights of night duties per week. Both airlines submitted their objections on December 4, 2024, highlighting potential operational disruptions. IndiGo's Chief Operating Officer, Isidro Porequras, outright rejected the suggestion, stating that it would have a "severe operational impact" on their schedule. IndiGo, with its extensive network, emphasized that maintaining current night flying hours is crucial for their operational model, which includes significant late-night and early morning flights. They are only willing to implement the new rest period recommendations, which increase weekly rest from 36 to 48 hours, in phases from June 2025 to after July 2026.
Air India, on the other hand, has conditionally accepted the proposal, stating that it could implement the extended night flying definition only after the DGCA introduces an advanced data-based fatigue management system. They echoed the sentiment for more rest but with a readiness to comply from June 2025, provided the regulatory support for a Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) is in place. The FRMS, as defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), is a scientific and data-driven approach to managing pilot fatigue.
Both airlines stress the necessity of this system for a practical and safe implementation of revised night flying hours. They argue that without FRMS, the current prescriptive norms should continue, as India's aviation safety system has not yet matured to the level recommended for FRMS adoption. This opposition comes at a time when India's aviation sector is rapidly expanding, with airlines like IndiGo and Air India planning significant fleet and network growth. The debate highlights the tension between regulatory safety measures and the commercial pressures of running an airline in one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets. The DGCA is now tasked with finding a balance that ensures safety without crippling airline operations.