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.