Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The central government on Friday placed the newly introduced flight duty time limitation (FDTL) rules for pilots in abeyance, aiming to stabilise disrupted airline operations and ease the ongoing crisis affecting IndiGo passengers. Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said the decision was taken in the larger interest of travellers — including senior citizens, students and patients — without compromising on air safety. Authorities expect IndiGo’s flight schedule to return to complete normalcy by Monday.
Crisis At IndiGo Prompts Emergency Intervention
India’s largest airline cancelled more than 750 flights on Friday after days of chaos triggered by severe operational disruptions. Multiple airports, including Delhi, witnessed no IndiGo departures for several hours. The carrier had earlier indicated that it would need exemptions from the new FDTL rules to restore schedule integrity by February 10, 2026. The ministry has now ordered a high-level inquiry to identify what went wrong inside IndiGo, determine accountability, and recommend structural measures to prevent such disruptions in future.
Directives To Restore Airline Services And Support Passengers
Along with suspending the FDTL rule, the aviation ministry has issued several operational instructions to ensure immediate relief for travellers. Airlines have been asked to provide real-time updates through enhanced digital tracking systems, full automatic refunds for cancelled flights, and hotel accommodation for stranded passengers. Special priority has been mandated for senior citizens and differently abled travellers, including lounge access and full on-ground assistance. Refreshments and essential services must be provided to all passengers impacted by delays. The DGCA has also offered its flight operations inspectors to operate IndiGo’s Airbus A320 aircraft to help speed up normalisation.
