DGCA Archives - India Podcast

HC questions DGCA over indefinite relaxation of pilots’ weekly rest and leave rules

Sirisha P — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:22:09 +0000

Why indefinite relaxation of norm on weekly rest, leaves for pilots, the Delhi High Court asked the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday. The court questioned why key safety-related norms were relaxed without fixing any time limit.

The court referred to an earlier instance where the DGCA granted IndiGo a temporary relaxation in night duty norms with a clear deadline. It asked why the rule on non-substitution of weekly rest and mandatory leaves for pilots was withdrawn indefinitely.

The bench said aviation safety depends heavily on adequate rest for pilots. It noted that fatigue can affect alertness and decision-making, which could pose serious risks.

The DGCA told the court that the relaxation was introduced to manage operational challenges faced by airlines. The regulator said it continues to monitor safety standards and compliance.

The court, however, stressed that any relaxation affecting safety must be time-bound and justified. It asked the DGCA to explain the rationale behind allowing an open-ended exemption.

The matter arose during a hearing on petitions raising concerns over pilot fatigue and work conditions. The court said regulatory decisions must strike a balance between operational needs and passenger safety.

The High Court said it would examine the issue further after receiving a detailed response from the DGCA.

The post HC questions DGCA over indefinite relaxation of pilots’ weekly rest and leave rules appeared first on India Podcast.

IndiGo Crisis Deepens as Flights Disrupt Nationwide

Anil Vanna — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 04:05:41 +0000

The IndiGo Airlines crisis continues across the country, entering its eighth day without relief. Passengers face major disruptions as flight operations remain unstable. The situation worsened in Hyderabad, where 14 outbound flights were cancelled. Another 44 incoming flights to Shamshabad also stopped, pushing the total cancellations to 56. Many travellers complained that the sudden cancellations ruined their schedules and caused heavy inconvenience.

The issue triggered a strong response from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Officials demanded clear explanations from all airlines involved in the disruptions. They also issued summons to senior management teams for a detailed review. The regulator aims to understand the root cause and prevent further operational failures. This intervention raised expectations of a quick resolution.

Government officials believe that strict monitoring will stabilise services soon. They want airlines to strengthen their operational planning to avoid such travel chaos. Authorities also advised companies to improve communication with passengers. Clear updates may reduce confusion and improve trust during crisis situations.

IndiGo stated that it is working to restore full services by December 10. The airline assured that the crisis will ease soon with new corrective measures. Travellers now hope the situation improves quickly and normal schedules return without more delays.

The post IndiGo Crisis Deepens as Flights Disrupt Nationwide appeared first on India Podcast.

Skyrocketing Flight Fares: IndiGo Crisis Hits Passengers Hard

Khazavali — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 08:30:13 +0000

Skyrocketing flight fares have become a major worry for passengers as the IndiGo crisis enters its fourth straight day. The skyrocketing flight fares started after more than 1,000 flights were cancelled across India, including 22 in Bihar.

Domestic ticket prices have jumped to shocking levels. The Patna–New Delhi fare even became higher than the Delhi–London fare. On Sunday, the Patna–Delhi fare on SpiceJet touched ₹41,380, while the Delhi–London fare on Air India was only ₹26,351. By Friday, the Patna–Delhi fare crossed ₹30,000.

Cancellations pushed passengers toward other airlines. Fares on Air India and SpiceJet became four to five times higher than usual. Tickets from Darbhanga to Delhi and Mumbai touched between ₹37,000 and ₹44,000. Routes like Patna–Mumbai, Patna–Bengaluru, and Patna–Chennai also saw huge jumps, with some fares crossing ₹50,000.

DGCA later withdrew its order on weekly holidays after airlines reported severe disruptions. In four days, cancellations crossed 1,900 flights nationwide.

Bihar faced 22 cancellations on Friday alone. Patna airport had the maximum impact with 12 cancelled flights. Long queues formed at the IndiGo counter as passengers demanded new tickets and fresh travel dates. Many expressed anger over the chaos.

The post Skyrocketing Flight Fares: IndiGo Crisis Hits Passengers Hard appeared first on India Podcast.

DGCA Issues Alert Over GPS Spoofing

Anil Vanna — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 07:21:00 +0000

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked all pilots, air traffic controllers, and airlines to report GPS spoofing or navigation interference within 10 minutes of detection. The aviation regulator said this move aims to protect flight safety and ensure smooth operations across India’s skies.

Recent GPS signal disruptions were observed around Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, which manages over 1,500 flights daily. The DGCA’s latest directive asks airlines and pilots to record the date, time, route, and coordinates of affected areas.

They must also specify the type of interference such as jamming, spoofing, or signal loss. Evidence like screenshots, flight logs, or system data can help investigators analyze the problem more effectively.

Between November 2023 and February 2025, about 465 interference cases were reported, mostly near Amritsar and Jammu. Similar incidents were also seen in conflict zones abroad. The DGCA is working with international aviation bodies like ICAO and IATA to strengthen protection against GNSS disruptions.

The post DGCA Issues Alert Over GPS Spoofing appeared first on India Podcast.

Nationwide Flight Disruptions: Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Steps In Amid ATC Collapse

Anil Vanna — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 10:08:51 +0000

Air travel across India faced major disruptions after a technical failure hit the Air Traffic Control (ATC) network. Passengers were stranded for hours at several airports as flight operations came to a standstill. Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu, immediately intervened and spent Friday night at the Delhi International Airport to assess the situation.

The minister personally reviewed the crisis with ATC officials until midnight. Sources said several flights were delayed or diverted due to the breakdown, affecting both domestic and international schedules. Naidu emphasized that passenger safety and restoration of services were his top priorities.

Technical issues were also reported at Hyderabad’s Shamshabad Airport and a few others. Early on Saturday, the minister conducted meetings with senior officials to monitor repairs and restoration efforts.

The Civil Aviation Authority, DGCA, and airport authorities are jointly working to resolve the system glitch. With flight operations still under stress, Minister Naidu canceled his planned Maldives visit to continue oversight from Delhi. Officials said full normalcy is expected soon.

The post Nationwide Flight Disruptions: Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Steps In Amid ATC Collapse appeared first on India Podcast.

PM Modi to Inaugurate Navi Mumbai International Airport

Anil Vanna — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 05:12:05 +0000

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) on Wednesday. The project, worth Rs 19,650 crore, covers 1,160 hectares and will be one of India’s most advanced and eco-friendly airports. Domestic flight operations will begin in December 2025, followed by international flights two months later. One runway has already been completed, and all terminals will be linked through an integrated system for better passenger convenience.

The airport will feature direct metro check-in and a “One-Up End-to-End Baggage Facility” for faster baggage handling. The terminal will reflect Indian culture through digital art and use artificial intelligence (AI) in various operations. Green energy and water conservation are key priorities in its design.

Connectivity to NMIA will improve through a new road from Atal Setu to Kosthal Road, while Metro Line 8 will link both Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports. A water taxi service will also start soon. The airport can park 350 aircraft and has two runways with separate taxiways.

Once fully operational, NMIA will handle 90 million passengers and 3.25 million tonnes of cargo each year. Together with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, it will create a multi-airport system, easing congestion and boosting India’s aviation growth.

The post PM Modi to Inaugurate Navi Mumbai International Airport appeared first on India Podcast.

India Wins ICAO Council President Certificate

Anil Vanna — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 07:25:47 +0000

India has been awarded the ICAO Council President Certificate for progress in aviation safety oversight. The recognition was presented at the 42nd ICAO Assembly in Montreal, Canada. DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai received the certificate on behalf of India.

The award acknowledged India’s improvements in implementing International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices. It is part of the ‘No Country Left Behind’ initiative, granted to nations demonstrating significant progress in aviation safety oversight. ICAO Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano presented the certificate.

India’s Effective Implementation (EI) score jumped to 85.65% in the 2022 ICAO audit, up from 69.95% in 2018. This improvement placed India among the world’s top 50 countries in aviation safety oversight for the first time, moving up from 102nd in 2018. India now ranks higher than countries such as China, Israel, Turkey, Denmark, and Poland.

The enhanced safety ranking is expected to benefit Indian carriers expanding internationally. Airlines like Air India (Tata Group) and IndiGo can now face fewer inspections abroad. In contrast, carriers from countries with weaker safety records often undergo surprise checks at foreign airports, affecting operations and schedules.

The post India Wins ICAO Council President Certificate appeared first on India Podcast.

Noida International Airport to Open on October 30

Anil Vanna — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 07:32:27 +0000

Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu announced that the Noida International Airport (NIA) in Jewar will open on October 30, 2025. Located 75 km from Delhi, it will be the second international airport in the National Capital Region (NCR), after Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA).

The airport will open on October 30, but flight operations will begin within 45 days, pending approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has granted airside security clearance, allowing the next steps for the aerodrome license.

The new airport will focus on cargo operations, unlike IGIA. It will feature CAT-III infrastructure to handle North India’s foggy conditions, ensuring safe landings in low visibility. In its first phase, NIA will handle 1.2 crore passengers annually, along with dedicated cargo facilities.

The airport will expand to 3 crore passengers annually and add a second runway. In the long term, NIA aims to handle 7 crore passengers each year.

This public-private partnership project faced delays, but the airport is expected to boost regional development, create jobs, and promote trade in Western UP.

The post Noida International Airport to Open on October 30 appeared first on India Podcast.