India’s largest carriers — IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet — have pushed back against proposed cabin crew rest regulations, calling the draft norms “more restrictive” than global standards and warning they could limit operational flexibility. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) released its draft Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) on Cabin Crew Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) in October 2025, triggering industry-wide consultations. One of the grouping’s principal arguments is that flight duty period — rather than flight time — should serve as the primary metric for managing cabin crew fatigue on a day-to-day basis. Also, FIA said the duty and rest limits should focus on the flight duty period and minimum rest periods, avoiding cumulative caps or direct linkage to the number of landings. With respect to proposed norms for rooms for the cabin crew, FIA said accommodation standards should be focused on rest quality, with twin-sharing permitted under operator-defined guidelines.

Source: The Telegraph February 11, 2026 15:42 UTC