India, Oct. 16 -- The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has told airlines that no variations to pilot duty and rest rules will be allowed from March 2027, when the second phase of the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), takes full effect, persons aware of the matter said.

The rules were due to be implemented since November 2025 and deferred after IndiGo's operational collapse roiled India's aviation sector. This time, airlines have been directed to plan their crew rosters and operations to comply with the regulations, one of the people cited above added.

"Airlines have been informed that all variations to DGCA rules will end when full FDTL are implemented in March," this person added, asking not to be named.

The FDTL rules ...