Air India allowed to extend pilot shifts as route times soar due to Pakistan ban

India’s aviation regulator has granted Air India a temporary exemption to extend the maximum duty hours and rest periods for pilots and cabin crew operating long-haul flights, as the airline grapples with disruptions caused by Pakistan’s closure of its airspace.

The adjustment, outlined in an internal memo reviewed by Reuters, is in effect for approximately two weeks beginning April 30, per Caliber.Az.

The measure applies to Airbus and Boeing aircraft operating long-haul routes, particularly those to the United States. According to a source familiar with the matter, the exemption was introduced to provide operational relief while longer-term solutions are still under consideration.

Under the temporary rules, the flight duty period—the time between reporting for duty and the completion of post-flight activities—has been increased. For flights lasting up to 12 hours, the maximum duty time has been raised from 14 to 16 hours. For flights exceeding 14 hours, the limit is now 24 hours instead of the previous 22. In parallel, additional rest has been allocated: four extra hours during layovers and 12 extra hours at the home base, beyond the existing minimum requirements.

The memo has raised concerns among Air India pilots, some of whom view the temporary measures as excessive. One pilot described the change to Reuters as “extreme,” citing fears about increased workloads amid a surge in India’s air travel demand.

The Economic Times was the first to report on the contents of the internal directive. Both Air India and India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation, which oversees the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), declined to comment immediately.

The DGCA, however, is reportedly in regular discussions with airlines to ensure that pilots and crew are not overburdened, the source told Reuters. Neither the pilot nor the source wished to be named, citing a lack of authorisation to speak to the media.

The flight duty extension comes as Indian carriers brace for elevated fuel costs and longer flight durations following Pakistan’s decision to block its airspace to Indian airlines. The move followed a recent attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, heightening tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

On May 1, Reuters reported that Air India estimates it will incur nearly $600 million in additional costs annually if the ban remains in place and has formally requested financial compensation from the Indian government.

By Tamilla Hasanova