✈️ India Airlines Group Opposes New Cabin Crew Fatigue Rules
Published: Feb 12, 2026
India’s major carriers, including IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet, have jointly raised concerns about the government’s draft cabin crew fatigue management rules, saying the proposals could hurt operations and growth prospects for airlines.
The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), an industry body representing the biggest domestic carriers, has formally written to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) urging a rethink of the draft norms.
🧑✈️ What the Draft Rules Say
The proposed regulations — part of an effort to boost safety and reduce fatigue-related risks — include:
📌 Increasing minimum weekly rest for cabin crew from 36 to 48 hours.
📌 Expanding limits on night duty and night flying for crew.
📌 Requiring single-room hotel accommodation for cabin crew during layovers.
According to the draft, these changes aim to improve rest quality and ensure that cabin crew are better rested, ultimately reducing fatigue and safety risks.
💼 Why Airlines Are Concerned
The FIA argues that the draft rules:
▶️ Are more restrictive than international standards, offering less flexibility than global norms.
▶️ Could disrupt flight schedules by making crew rostering more difficult.
▶️ Might limit airlines’ growth and competitiveness if implemented without adjustments.
▶️ Could create logistical issues, such as finding enough hotel rooms at major airports if single occupancy is mandated.
The airlines also stress that operational feasibility matters — especially since Indian carriers run many short-haul flights with multiple take-offs and landings a day. They suggest that fatigue management should emphasise duty periods and rest opportunities rather than strict caps tied to flight time alone.
📊 Industry Context
This pushback comes against the backdrop of ongoing debates about crew fatigue rules in India’s aviation sector. Earlier, new pilot fatigue regulations led to widespread flight cancellations at IndiGo, highlighting the industry’s struggle to adapt to stricter duty and rest norms.
The DGCA has yet to announce a timeline for when the cabin crew rules might be finalised or implemented. Regulators will likely balance safety goals with industry concerns before moving forward.
