48-hour weekly rest, night limits: India’s top airlines push back on new cabin crew fatigue rules

A group representing India’s leading airlines, including IndiGo and Air India, has urged the government to reconsider proposed fatigue management rules for cabin crew. The airlines have warned that the new regulations could disrupt flight schedules and affect the long-term growth of the aviation sector.

The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), which represents IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet, has written to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) expressing concerns about the draft rules. The proposals were introduced in October with the aim of improving operational safety.

What are the new norms?

Under the proposed norms, the minimum weekly rest period for cabin crew would increase from 36 hours to 48 hours. The draft rules also seek to expand restrictions on night operations and redefine ultra-long-haul flights as those lasting more than 14 hours, instead of the current 16-hour benchmark.

The government has said that the purpose of the new rules is to enhance safety. Concerns about crew fatigue and mental health have been under greater scrutiny following the Air India crash last June that killed 260 people, although the cause of the accident has not yet been determined.

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However, the FIA has argued that the new rules go beyond global standards and could “severely” limit the competitiveness and expansion plans of Indian airlines. According to the association, the combined effect of the proposed provisions could make crew scheduling more complicated and reduce predictability in flight rosters.

The letter from the FIA comes at a sensitive time for the industry. In December, IndiGo cancelled around 4,500 flights due to poor planning linked to the introduction of new fatigue rules for pilots. Air India is also dealing with financial pressures following an airspace ban imposed by Pakistan and the aftermath of last year’s crash.

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The FIA has requested the regulator to introduce the new rules in a phased manner rather than implementing them all at once. It has also sought relaxation in certain night operation limits, suggesting that they should be aligned more closely with established fatigue science.

One of the proposed measures includes requiring airlines to provide individual hotel rooms for flight attendants during layovers to ensure better rest. While this is not mandatory under international aviation regulations, many global airlines already follow the practice. However, the FIA has argued that making it compulsory in India could create logistical challenges, especially at airports where hotel availability is limited. This could result in crew members being accommodated far from airports or in less suitable locations.

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There is currently no fixed timeline for the implementation of the new cabin crew fatigue rules. The DGCA and the airlines involved have not publicly commented on the matter.

The discussion highlights the ongoing balance between strengthening aviation safety standards and maintaining operational efficiency in one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets.