Overview
- The airline has asked to raise the two‑pilot flying cap from 10 hours to 11 hours 30 minutes and to extend the Flight Duty Period from 13 hours to 14 hours 45 minutes.
- Officials say Air India is the only Indian carrier to have formally sought this temporary relaxation, and the regulator is examining the proposal.
- Carriers have been avoiding Iranian and Iraqi skies and, since last year, Pakistan airspace, which has added hours to westbound routes and increased fuel burn.
- Operational knock‑ons include longer block times, added fuel stops such as Rome on some North America services, and select cancellations reported this week.
- Airlines cite unplanned detours that can push crews past duty limits without an extra pilot on board, illustrated by an IndiGo London–Mumbai flight that diverted to Cairo and continued after crew rest.