New Delhi, December 5: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced immediate relief in certain pilot duty regulations on Friday, as the country faces widespread IndiGo flight cancellations causing disruption at airports across the nation.
The aviation regulator made this announcement at a time when IndiGo flights are being cancelled on a large scale nationwide, leading to increased chaos at airports and passenger inconvenience.
To control this growing crisis, the aviation regulator has now announced in its latest notification to provide relaxation in the rule that prevented airlines from combining pilot’s weekly rest with leave periods.
Earlier, DGCA had stated in its order that weekly rest cannot be substituted with leave. However, the new notification reverses this restriction to address operational challenges faced by airlines.
In the new notification, DGCA stated that considering the current operational difficulties and problems faced by several airlines, and to ensure continuity and stability in operations, a review of this provision was deemed necessary.
The regulator further said, “The order preventing airlines from combining pilot’s weekly rest with leave is withdrawn with immediate effect.”
The issue of IndiGo’s approximately 500 flight cancellations causing passenger difficulties was also raised in Parliament on Friday, where opposition members accused the airline of “monopolistic practices” and alleged “regulatory negligence” by the government.
Earlier, Delhi Airport issued an advisory for passengers stating that all domestic IndiGo flights from the airport are cancelled until midnight today due to operational issues.
Due to staff shortage, IndiGo had cancelled 1,232 flights in November alone, highlighting the scale of the airline’s operational challenges.
To prevent passenger inconvenience at airports, IndiGo has also advised travelers to check their flight status before leaving home, acknowledging the widespread disruptions.
The government stated that it is monitoring IndiGo’s operational recovery and passenger support measures until stability is restored to normal levels.
The DGCA’s decision to relax pilot duty norms comes as a direct response to the operational crisis that has left thousands of passengers stranded and raised questions about airline regulations and oversight in the country.
– Udaipur Kiran
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 8 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Udaipur Kiran & Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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