The Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA) on Thursday raised concerns over recent flight cancellations across the country, which have been largely attributed to a pilot shortage linked to new Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) regulations. The association questioned whether the crisis stems from poor airline planning, regulatory oversight by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), or a combination of factors affecting market fairness.

ALPA highlighted that airlines, including IndiGo, were aware of the revised FDTL norms issued by the DGCA in January 2024, with phased implementation beginning later that year. Despite sufficient lead time, many carriers reportedly failed to properly adjust crew rosters 15 days in advance as required, suggesting an initial underestimation or delay in strategic planning to ensure adequate pilot availability.