IndiGo opposes DGCA’s proposal for reduced night flying for pilots

IndiGo has rejected the DGCA’s suggestion to raise the definition of night flying from all flying between midnight to 5 a.m. by an hour to include flying till 6 a.m. Representational file image.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

In a letter to the DGCA, IndiGo has opposed the regulator’s proposal to reduce night flying for pilots on the ground saying that it will have a “severe operational impact” despite complaints of mounting fatigue worsened by increased night flying at a time of aggressive international expansion by airlines.

The airline has rejected the DGCA’s suggestion to raise the definition of night flying from all flying between midnight to 5 a.m. by an hour to include flying till 6 a.m. in a letter from IndiGo Chief Operating Officer, Isidro Porequras, to the DGCA on December 4. The Hindu has reviewed a copy of this letter.

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“We propose retaining the current definition of night flying,” the official has written.

Expanding the definition of night flying would essentially bring down night flying for pilots as airlines are not permitted to assign more than two consecutive duties of night flying in a week.

The new definition was part of the revised rules governing rest and duty hours for pilots notified by the regulator in January 2024 which were to be implemented from June 1. But these were put on hold on March 26 following stiff opposition from airlines which sought more time on the ground that the new norms would raise their requirement for pilots by “10% to 20%” as well as increase airfares because of reduced aircraft utilisation. Subsequently, the DGCA asked airlines to indicate the timeline for implementation of the new rules they were comfortable with.

Digging its heels in on the issue of night flying, the airline has further said that the proposal to restrict the number of landings to only two during night flying can only be implemented after October 2026, and only if the flying hours fully encompassed the midnight to 5 a.m. period. This implies that if flying started or ended any time in between this window, say at 2 a.m. or 3 a.m., IndiGo would assign more landings.

On the other key change introduced by the regulator of enhancing weekly rest from the current 36 hours to 48 hours the airline has written that it can implement this in a staggered manner between June 2025 and post June 2026. It says that the rest period can be increased to 40 hours from June 2025, following which it will assess the impact of this change, “with a view to potentially increase the weekly rest period post June 2026.”

There is also a writ petition on this matter before the Delhi High Court where Air India and three pilot bodies are parties. In connection with this, the DGCA held a mediation round on the order of the court on Wednesday between the two sides and it is learnt that Air India has informed the regulator that they could implement the rules from July 1, while pilot bodies demanded immediate implementation. Another meeting will be scheduled next month before the next date of hearing on January 23.