The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a major operational relief for airlines, withdrawing an earlier instruction that barred carriers from substituting crew weekly rest with leave — a move that comes at a time when India’s aviation sector is struggling with widespread disruptions, cancellations and staffing constraints.
According to the official order dated 5 December 2025, the DGCA referred to its earlier circular (DGCA-22011/04/2021-FSD dated 20 January 2025), which had explicitly stated that “no leave shall be substituted for weekly rest.” This provision has now been withdrawn with immediate effect.
The regulator said the decision was taken “in view of the ongoing operational disruptions and representations received from various airlines regarding the need to ensure continuity and stability of operations.” The DGCA noted that it was necessary to review the rule to support smoother functioning of flight schedules, especially during a period of severe nationwide cancellations and crew-related shortages.
The updated directive has been issued with the approval of the Competent Authority and communicated to all operators, allowing airlines flexibility in managing pilot and cabin crew rosters while they work to stabilise operations.
This development comes as multiple carriers — particularly IndiGo — continue to face large-scale disruptions across major airports.
