The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has refused to extend the June 1 deadline for airlines to implement the new flight duty time limitation (FDTL) norms for pilots.
Last month, the Federation of Indian Airlines — which includes IndiGo, Air India, Vistara, and SpiceJet — wrote to the regulator requesting a deferral of the deadline by one year. They cited the need for approximately 25 per cent more pilots to implement the new norms and expressed concerns about their ability to hire and train that many pilots by June 1.
In a letter sent to airlines on Friday, the DGCA acknowledged the feedback from the airlines but emphasised that its “paramount” objective is to ensure the safety of the skies while promoting a conducive environment for the growth and competitiveness of the Indian aviation industry.
