Air India Extends Pilot Duty Hours Amid Mideast War Disruptions
Air India Extends Pilot Duty Hours Amid Mideast War Disruptions
Air India pilots will fly longer hours as Gulf detours persist, with temporary duty-time relaxations in place through April 30 to keep flights moving.
Air India is operating under a temporary relaxation of flight duty time limits due to longer routes caused by disruptions in the Middle East region. The changes allow wide-body pilots to fly longer hours as the airline reroutes flights between India and Europe, the UK, and North America to avoid limited airspace and safety concerns in the area. Under the extended plan, pilots can fly up to 11.5 hours, an increase of 1.5 hours from the standard limit. There have been reports that on some quick return legs to Gulf destinations, including Jeddah, the actual flying time has exceeded 11.5 hours at least once. While the move is acknowledged as necessary given the current security and routing constraints, pilots say fatigue is a real safety concern and should not become a regular practice. The exemptions are scheduled to remain in force until April 30, after which the situation and policies will likely be reassessed. In response, Air India is reviewing rostering and implementing measures intended to mitigate fatigue, such as adjusting rest periods and accelerating pilot upgrade programs to better manage the increased flight demand. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation cited evolving security developments, including temporary airspace closures and routing restrictions across parts of the Middle East, as the primary reasons for the temporary policy. The airline emphasizes that these steps are meant to preserve flight connectivity during disruptions, while pilots stress the importance of balancing operational needs with crew well-being to maintain safety standards. As airlines navigate the ongoing crisis, operators are faced with the challenge of keeping schedules intact while safeguarding pilot health and performance on longer routes.
