Hyderabad: A sudden spike in flight cancellations across the country has left thousands of passengers stranded and frustrated this week, as airlines struggle to adapt to the latest duty and rest-period regulations introduced by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The rules, aimed at improving pilot well-being and flight safety, have unexpectedly set off disruptions in day-to-day operations, especially among carriers with dense schedules.
Under the revised norms, pilots are now entitled to longer mandatory rest intervals and tighter limits on night-time flying. While the reforms have been widely welcomed from a safety perspective, their implementation has sharply reduced the number of crew available to operate flights. Airlines, still recovering from pandemic-era staffing shortages and rising fuel costs, are finding it difficult to reorganise rosters at short notice.
As a result, major airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai have witnessed repeated cancellations over the past few days. Long queues at check-in counters, frequent gate changes, and hours-long waiting times have become routine for travellers during what is already a busy holiday season. Social media has been flooded with passenger appeals and complaints, ranging from lack of information to sudden mid-night flight cancellations without alternative arrangements.
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Airline representatives have acknowledged the operational challenge and apologised to passengers, while maintaining that the changes require a transition period. The aviation regulator has said the revised rules were introduced in the interest of flight safety, emphasising that adequate rest for crew members is non-negotiable.
Travel experts believe the situation may take several weeks to stabilise. Until then, passengers are advised to monitor flight status closely, arrive early at airports, and keep backup options where possible. For now, a regulation designed to make flying safer has inadvertently turned the air travel experience into an unpredictable ordeal, with passengers bearing the brunt of the turbulence on the ground rather than in the sky.