Air India seeks DGCA nod to relax flight duty norms amid geopolitical tensions

NEW DELHI: Air India has approached the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) seeking temporary relaxation in Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms as escalating tensions in the Middle East force airlines to take longer diversionary routes, a report said on Thursday.

The Tata Group-owned airline has requested permission to operate certain long-haul flights with a two-pilot crew instead of the standard three, along with an extension in maximum flying time, according to NDTV Profit.

According to sources cited by the NDTV Profit, the airline firm has sought a one-hour and three-minute increase in permissible flying time, which would raise the limit from 10 hours to about 11–11.5 hours.

It has also requested that the maximum Flight Duty Period (FDP) be extended by 1 hour and 45 minutes, increasing the cap from 13 hours to 14 hours and 45 minutes.