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IndiGo flight cancellations: India’s duty norms stricter than global standards, says IATA chief – The Times of India

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IndiGo flight cancellations: India’s duty norms stricter than global standards, says IATA chief – The Times of India



India’s recently introduced flight duty regulations for pilots are significantly stricter than those in many other countries, but operations are expected to stabilise over time, International Air Transport Association (IATA) Chief Willie Walsh said.His remarks follow a week of major disruptions at IndiGo, India’s largest airline, which saw hundreds of flights cancelled and thousands of passengers affected. The lack of careful planning during the rollout of the second phase of the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms, which came into effect on November 1 is possibly the main reason for the disruption. Operations at the airline are now nearing normalcy.“The new Indian regulations appear to be much more restrictive than those in other jurisdictions but I think you have got to always recognise that regulators have a responsibility to ensure that the industry is safe and secure. The changes have been implemented, I think for the right reasons. It is just a matter of time now before it settles down,” Walsh said, as quoted by PTI.Speaking at a media session in Geneva, Walsh noted that pilot fatigue rules are a topic of ongoing discussion in Europe and the United States. “India has decided that they want to take measures, particularly around potential fatigue around night time operations, which instinctively would have a greater impact on low-cost carriers, given their business model… it is disappointing that so many consumers have been impacted as a result of this change,” he said.The second phase of the FDTL regulations also limits the number of night landings a pilot can conduct, affecting airlines like IndiGo. In response, India’s civil aviation ministry announced a 10 per cent reduction in the carrier’s winter flight schedule to help stabilise operations.“During the last week, many passengers faced severe inconvenience due to IndiGo’s internal mismanagement of crew rosters, flight schedules and inadequate communication,” Civil aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu said Tuesday, as quoted by PTI.The IATA represents nearly 360 airlines worldwide, accounting for over 80 per cent of global air traffic. Its members include major Indian carriers such as IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, and SpiceJet.





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Lidl’s loyalty card becomes less generous, shoppers say

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3 hours ago

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May 5, 2026

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Lidl’s loyalty card becomes less generous, shoppers say



Under the changed system customers collect points rather than reward coupons, with £1 spent equalling one point.



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UK government long-term borrowing costs reach 28-year high

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3 hours ago

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May 5, 2026

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UK government long-term borrowing costs reach 28-year high



There have been extra jitters in UK government debt markets ahead of Thursday’s local and national elections.



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Sugarcane price hike: Govt raises FRP to Rs 365/quintal for 2026-27, farmers to benefit from higher returns – The Times of India

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May 5, 2026

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Sugarcane price hike: Govt raises FRP to Rs 365/quintal for 2026-27, farmers to benefit from higher returns – The Times of India


The government has increased the fair and remunerative price (FRP) of sugarcane by Rs 10 to Rs 365 per quintal for the 2026-27 season beginning October, PTI reported.The decision was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.“The FRP will be Rs 365/quintal for a basic recovery rate of 10.25 per cent,” Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said after the meeting.The revised FRP is 2.81 per cent higher than the current rate of Rs 355 per quintal for the 2025-26 season.For every 0.1 per cent increase in sugar recovery above 10.25 per cent, the FRP will rise by Rs 3.56 per quintal, providing an incentive to mills for higher efficiency.To safeguard farmers supplying to mills with lower recovery rates, the government has decided that there will be no deduction in FRP for recovery below 9.5 per cent. In such cases, farmers will receive Rs 338.3 per quintal in the 2026-27 season.The production cost of sugarcane for 2026-27 has been estimated at Rs 182 per quintal, making the FRP 100.5 per cent higher than the cost.“Farmers are expected to get more than Rs 1 lakh crore,” Vaishnaw said.The move is expected to benefit nearly one crore sugarcane farmers, along with farm labourers and workers engaged in sugar mills.The FRP has been fixed based on recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and consultations with state governments and stakeholders.The sugar sector supports the livelihoods of around five crore farmers and their families, and about five lakh workers directly employed in sugar mills, besides those involved in related activities such as transportation.Sugar mills are required to purchase sugarcane from farmers at the FRP or higher.Vaishnaw said the FRP has been increased every year over the past decade, and the latest revision will also support ethanol production from surplus sugarcane.On cane dues, he said that in the 2024-25 season, about Rs 1,02,209 crore, or nearly 99.5 per cent, of the total payable dues of Rs 1,02,687 crore had been cleared as of April 20, 2026.For the ongoing 2025-26 season, Rs 99,961 crore, or 88.6 per cent, has been paid out of total dues of Rs 1,12,740 crore.



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