India's major carriers push back on DGCA draft cabin‑crew rest rules, warn of operational constraints

Proposed cumulative caps, single‑room mandates and landing‑based limits could reduce rostering flexibility and force cancellations — DGCA's earlier 48‑hour rest rule already triggered widespread disruptions when carriers struggled to comply ([source:3f8472ce-6034-47f3-8931-0c7fbb2e8779]).

The draft arrives amid heightened regulator scrutiny and financial penalties for operators; stricter crew rules would add operational cost and could weaken competitiveness for carriers operating tight, growth‑oriented networks ([source:73ce05d3-7a3e-4ff6-8ad7-6786e1bb8672]).

The DGCA has recently expanded fatigue‑management oversight, including mandated training and quarterly reporting, so these proposals represent a broader regulatory pivot that will affect rostering, accommodation sourcing and network planning ([source:2b0510ea-9334-4739-b3ec-9d1ff8006488]).