Air India Faces Four Showcause Notices Over Crew Rest Violations and Under-Deployment

Rapid Summary

• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued four show-cause notices to Air India citing 29 violations over pilot rest norms, inadequate cabin crew deployment on ultra-long-haul flights, and lapses in crew training.
• Among the violations:

– Nineteen instances involved delays in mandatory pilot refresher training programs, including those required for operations at high-demand airports like Kathmandu.
– Three breaches of weekly rest requirements for pilots were observed from June 2024 to June 2025.
– Four ultra-long-haul international flights deployed fewer than the mandatory number of cabin crew between April and May 2025. Examples include a Chicago-Delhi flight with only 12 cabin crew rather of the required 15.

• additional issues included three lapses in cabin crew competency such as operating flights with expired safety certifications or assigning duty despite known safety infractions.
• DGCA criticized Air India’s “systemic issues” regarding compliance monitoring, governance failures around planning/training, and poor “safety management.”
• Air India voluntarily disclosed these violations and was given a timeline of two weeks by DGCA to respond.
• An Air India spokesperson commented that the airline remains committed to passenger and crew safety.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The findings by DGCA highlight critical gaps in operational standards at one of India’s largest airlines. These lapses encompass areas directly affecting aviation safety-pilot readiness, adequate staffing on long-haul routes, and proper training protocols for both pilots and cabin crews. voluntary disclosure reflects transparency from Air India but also underscores systemic challenges tied to governance frameworks within its operations.

For India’s aviation sector-which aims for international competitiveness-such incidents coudl trigger reputational concerns if not promptly rectified. A robust response from both DGCA enforcement mechanisms and Air India’s internal restructuring efforts will be pivotal to restoring confidence among passengers while ensuring alignment with global best practices. At its core, this episode signals an urgent need for strengthening compliance frameworks within Indian carriers amidst rising demand for air travel globally.

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