New pilot duty and rest hours can be implemented from July 2025, DGCA tells Delhi HC

DGCA delays implementation of new pilot rest rules until July 2025, citing need for phased approach and industry consultation.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) informed Delhi High Court on Friday (December 6, 2024) that the new norms that provide enhanced weekly rest for pilots and reduced night time flying to help them combat rising fatigue levels could only be implemented from July 2025 in a phased manner.

The implementation of the revised rules governing duty and rest hours for pilots has already been delayed by over six months.

The rules notified by the DGCA in January 2024 increased weekly rest for pilots from 36 hours to 48 hours as well as reduced their night-time flying. They were to be implemented from June 2024, but following opposition from airlines the regulator put these rules into abeyance on March 26.

On Friday (December 6, 2024), while hearing a writ petition filed by the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), the Indian Pilots’ Guild, and the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association, Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju asked the DGCA to hold another round of meeting with Air India and pilot bodies on December 18 to reach a consensus on the timeline of implementation. Two such mediation meetings have already taken place where Air India is learnt to have pressed for wider industry consultation as well as indicated that the new norms could result in reduced salaries for narrow-body pilots because of a reduction in flying hours. The next date of hearing on the matter is on January 23.

“It is the considered view of the regulator, along with the ministry, that to to make it seamless and to address operational constraints, the readiness of the pilots, training and onboarding [of new pilots], software integration will require a phased implementation,” the Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati appearing on behalf of the DGCA said.

The counsel for the DGCA said interests on all sides needed to be balanced, including those of the passengers and the aviation sector.

The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), a grouping of domestic airlines, had opposed the six month time frame given to them for implementation of the new norms from June 2024 as “inadequate”. It warned that the revised rest requirements would require airlines to recruit “10% to 20%” more pilots. Implementing the rules in a hurry would result in flight cancellations as well as result in a hike in airfares, the FIA had said.