DGCA puts new pilot rest rule behind IndiGo flight cancellations on hold

Amid the ongoing IndiGo fiasco , the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday withdrew the key provision of barring the airlines from substituting pilot weekly rest with leave. An official dated 5 December 2025 reflected the plan, and the withdrawal came after IndiGo’s large-scale cancellations, which triggered nationwide flight disruptions.

In the previous notification, DCGA stated that “no leave shall be substituted for weekly rest.” According to the aviation authority, the decision to reverse this clause was taken “in view of the ongoing operational disruptions and representations received from various airlines regarding the need to ensure continuity and stability of operations.”

The regulator maintained that it found it necessary to review the provision to support smoother airline functioning. As per the notice, the order was approved by the Competent Authority and stated that the instruction is “withdrawn with immediate effect.” It was issued by Himanshu Srivastava, Assistant Director of Operations (FSD), on behalf of the Director General of Civil Aviation.

IndiGo disruptions caused the change in the rule

It is pertinent to note that the rule change came at a time when IndiGo, India’s largest airline, had cancelled hundreds of flights over the past few days, leaving thousands of passengers stranded across airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad.

Hours before the notification, IndiGo had already cancelled all Delhi departures till midnight and all Mumbai departures till 6 PM. Chennai flights were also cancelled. The operational breakdown has caused ripple effects across the entire aviation network, including fare spikes and congestion at major airports.

Hence, DCGA’s latest step is expected to give airlines temporary flexibility as they attempt to tackle the situation.

This is a developing story.