FDTL Norms and India’s Aviation Sector | 08 Dec 2025

Source:IE 

Why in News?  

IndiGo Airlines has come under scrutiny after mass flight cancellations triggered by the implementation of revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms left thousands of passengers stranded, prompting the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to grant temporary exemptions for operational stabilisation. 

What are the Revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) Rules? 

• About: FDTL norms are safety regulations issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that prescribe how long pilots can remain on duty, how many hours they can fly, the number of night landings permitted, and the minimum rest they must receive.  
  • These norms are designed to prevent pilot fatigue, reduce human error, and enhance aviation safety, and are aligned with international aviation standards. 
• New FDTL Rules: 
  • Weekly Rest Increased: Pilots must now get 48 consecutive hours of rest, up from 36 hours earlier. 
  • Night Landings Capped: Pilots can perform only 2 night landings, reduced from 6 earlier. 
    • No more than 2 continuous night duties are allowed. 
  • Mandatory Roster Adjustments: Airlines must redesign crew rosters as per the new limits. 
  • Quarterly fatigue reporting: Airlines must submit regular fatigue risk reports to the DGCA. 
• Objective: Fatigue is a major operational risk in aviation, especially during early morning departures and night landings.  
  • The new FDTL rules aim to improve pilot alertness, reduce human error, and align India’s aviation safety standards with global norms.

What is the Status of India’s Aviation Sector? 

• Global Ranking: India is the 3rd-largest domestic aviation market after the US and China. 
  • Passenger demand is rising due to urbanisation, tourism, and middle-class expansion. 
• Passenger Traffic Growth: By 2040, the passenger traffic is expected to grow six-fold to around 1.1 billion. 
• Economic Contribution: As of 2025, aviation  supports over 7.7 million jobs (direct + indirect) and contributes 1.5% of India’s GDP. 
• Fleet Strength:The Indian fleet accounts for around 2.4% of the total global fleet. 
  • Fleet size has grown rapidly due to airline expansion and new aircraft orders. 
• Airport Infrastructure Expansion: Number of operational airports increased from 74 in 2014 to 163 in 2025.  By 2047, India aims to have 350–400 airports. 
  • Strong focus on Greenfield airports and PPP-based development. 
• Indian Civil Aviation Regulation:  
  • Air Corporations Act, 1953: Nationalised nine airline companies. Government-owned airlines dominated the sector till the mid-1990s. 
  • Open Sky Policy (1990–94): Allowed private air taxi operators. Ended the monopoly of Indian Airlines (IA) and Air India (AI). 
  • The Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024: Replaces the colonial-era Aircraft Act, 1934 and aligns India’s aviation laws with ICAO standards and the Chicago Convention.  
    • It promotes Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat in aviation manufacturing, introduces simplified licensing and regulatory processes, provides a structured appeals mechanism, and modernises India’s overall aviation governance framework.

What are the Key Challenges in India’s Aviation Sector? 

• Pilot and Crew Shortages: Rapid growth in air traffic has created a mismatch between demand and availability of trained pilots, cabin crew, and maintenance staff. 
  • New safety norms like FDTL have further increased manpower requirements, leading to frequent flight cancellations, delays, and operational disruptions because airlines did not hire and train sufficient pilots in advance to meet the new staffing needs. 
• Airport Infrastructure Bottlenecks: Major airports like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru operate near full capacity, leading to runway congestion, parking shortages, and airspace crowding, especially during peak hours. 
• High Operating Costs: Airlines face heavy financial pressure due to high Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices, aircraft leasing costs in dollars, and rising maintenance expenses. 
• Aggressive Capacity and Scheduling Practices: Airlines often announce ambitious flight schedules without adequate backup crews or spare aircraft, increasing the risk of mass cancellations during disruptions. 
• Passenger Protection and Grievance Redressal: During large-scale disruptions, passengers face poor communication, weak compensation mechanisms, and limited legal remedies. 
• Dependence on Foreign Aircraft and Supply Chains: Heavy reliance on imported aircraft, engines, and spare parts exposes the sector to global supply chain disruptions and currency volatility. 
• Exchange Rate Volatility: The depreciation of the Indian rupee against the US dollar raises costs for airlines, as key expenses like aircraft leasing and fuel imports are dollar-denominated. 
• Aviation Safety Risks: Recent crashes in 2025 and rising traffic highlight concerns over safety oversight and emergency response. 

What Measures can Strengthen India’s Aviation Sector? 

• Temporary Regulatory Relief for Stabilisation: DGCA has granted IndiGo a temporary one-time exemption from certain night-operation. This short-term relief should be used strictly for operational stabilisation, not for long-term dependence. 
  • FDTL norms must not be diluted, as fatigue management is critical to aviation safety. 
• Build Operational Buffers: Maintain standby pilots, reserve cabin crew, and spare aircraft to handle disruptions during peak seasons and technical failures. 
• Improve Passenger Communication & Compensation: Real-time updates, automatic refunds, and compensation must be strengthened to restore public trust. 
• Encourage Sustainable Aviation: Promote Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), energy-efficient airports, and compliance with ICAO's Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) for carbon reduction. 
• Airspace Modernisation: Expedite the proposed Civil Air Traffic Management System with Advanced-Surface Movement Guidance and Control System to optimize airspace usage and reduce delays. 

Conclusion

The IndiGo crisis has highlighted serious gaps in manpower planning, infrastructure readiness, and passenger protection in India’s aviation sector. While FDTL norms rightly prioritise safety, airlines must strengthen crew capacity and operational resilience. With airspace modernisation and sustainable practices, the sector can achieve safer and more stable growth.