Kolkata, 08 December (H.S.) : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday launched a sharp attack on the central government over the ongoing disruptions in Indigo flight operations, alleging that the newly implemented FDTL guidelines were enforced without adequate planning, causing widespread inconvenience to passengers.

Speaking at Kolkata Airport before departing for Cooch Behar, the Chief Minister said the Centre hurriedly introduced the Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) norms without preparing the aviation sector for the transition. She stressed that although rest for pilots and crew members is essential, introducing any new policy requires proper groundwork and a practical roadmap.

According to Mamata Banerjee, passengers have suffered severe inconvenience over the past several days due to flight cancellations and delays. She accused the Centre of implementing the guidelines in a “completely unplanned and careless manner,” adding that the government must ensure alternatives before rolling out new regulations.

Intensifying her criticism, the Chief Minister alleged that the central government is more focused on elections than on public convenience. She further stated that the Union government must compensate passengers for the difficulties faced, and suggested that those affected could also seek legal remedies if necessary.

Indigo’s flight operations have been severely disrupted for the past seven days. Several cancellations across the country have left lakhs of passengers stranded. The crisis was widely attributed to the revised FDTL norms imposed by aviation regulator DGCA, whose second phase came into effect in November.

The FDTL rules determine mandatory rest periods for pilots and crew members. Some of the updated provisions reportedly led to operational strain, prompting DGCA to withdraw a key requirement with immediate effect. Earlier, pilots were required to receive a compulsory 48-hour weekly rest period. Following the Indigo crisis, the rule was modified to allow weekly off-days to be included within the 48-hour rest window. Additionally, certain night-duty restrictions were relaxed to help restore normal flight schedules.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh