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IFALPA Criticizes IndiGo Rest-Rule Exemption as Rail Unions Push Fatigue Caps

Railway unions cite chronic vacancies to press for FRMS-based duty limits.

Overview

  • India's regulator granted IndiGo a one-time waiver from new night-duty rules and rolled back a restriction on counting leave as weekly rest.
  • IFALPA's president said the move was not based on scientific evidence and warned that fatigue directly affects safety.
  • IndiGo acknowledged poor planning for the Nov. 1 shift to stricter FDTL and FRMS, with at least 2,000 flights canceled this month.
  • AILRSA called for an FRMS framework with a six-hour daily cap, no more than two consecutive night shifts, 16 hours of rest after each duty, and guaranteed weekly rest.
  • Unions pointed to a loco-pilot shortfall of over 30,000, long-ignored expert recommendations and a court-ordered job analysis they say remains unfulfilled, with formal talks still at an early stage.