Overview
- India’s aviation regulator raised the Boeing 787 two-pilot flight time limit from 10:00 to 10:30 hours and the flight duty period from 13:00 to 14:00 hours on specified international sectors.
- The exemption took effect on October 26 and runs through March 31, 2026, with a requirement for an additional one hour of rest at the layover station.
- DGCA says the temporary measure aims to avert passenger disruption and roster irregularities caused by rerouting around closed Pakistani airspace.
- The order applies to eight routes, including Delhi–Copenhagen, Delhi–Milan, two Delhi–France services, Ahmedabad–London Gatwick, London Gatwick–Amritsar, Delhi–Zurich and Birmingham–Amritsar.
- ALPA has asked DGCA to withdraw the extension, citing an FAA directive restricting 787 captain seat recline, and is pressing for augmented crews on long or WOCL flights plus a formal fatigue risk assessment, noting concerns sharpened by a recent fatal 787 crash.