In a sharp turnaround, DGCA withdrew its earlier order that mandated “weekly rest” for IndiGo crew members. The reversal comes amid growing chaos within the airline’s operations and mounting flight cancellations.
The regulator’s initial rest directive aimed to ensure crew welfare and limit fatigue. But with IndiGo struggling to maintain flight schedules — including hundreds of cancelled flights over recent days — authorities chose to lift that mandate temporarily. This move gives the airline more flexibility to deploy crew on tight flight rosters.
IndiGo welcomed the decision. The airline said that lifting the rest requirement will help it manage disrupted schedules and attempt to resume normal operations. It added that it now plans to reassign staff dynamically to cover flights that got cancelled or delayed earlier.
Passengers and aviation watchers reacted with concern. Many worry that repeated staff rotation without regular rest might degrade service quality or increase safety risks. Some voiced fear that India’s busiest domestic carrier could overwork its crew to restore flight numbers quickly.
Industry analysts said the change reflects regulators’ urgency to stabilise airline operations during a severe crisis. But they also warned that crew fatigue and morale issues might worsen if airlines rely on stretched staff schedules for long.
For now, DGCA expects IndiGo to resume most flights soon. It also asked the airline to keep a close watch on crew welfare and ensure safety does not suffer in the rush to catch up.
