The DGCA Threatens to Suspend Air India's Licence

 New Delhi, June 22, 2025:

Following multiple and severe violations of crew rosters and pilot duty time regulations, India's aviation watchdog, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has issued Air India a severe warning, indicating that the airline's operating license may be suspended unless prompt remedial action is taken. 

According to the DGCA's directive, Air India must relieve three senior executives of all flight crew rostering duties. These executives include a divisional vice president, chief manager of crew scheduling, and a planning executive. Two BENGALURU–LONDON flights in May exceeded the legal 10 hour pilot flight time limit, according to an order issued on June 21 that highlights a systemic failure in the carrier's scheduling systems.

The DGCA has taken further action, sending show cause notices to Campbell Wilson, the CEO of Air India, and demanding an explanation within seven days. The regulator emphasized that any additional infractions could result in fines, license suspension, or airline permissions being revoked under Section 22 of the Aircraft Act. 

Following other recent lapses, such as three Airbus aircraft operating with past-due safety equipment inspections and continued investigation into the June 12 Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash near Ahmedabad, this measure is a part of a larger safety crackdown. According to Air India, which has complied with the directive, its Chief Operations Officer will now have direct control over the scheduling center.

"Of particular concern is the absence of strict disciplinary measures against key officials directly responsible," a DGCA source told reporters. Additionally, the airline has been instructed by the regulator to submit a compliance report and begin disciplinary actions within ten days. In a formal statement, Air India stated: "We certify that we are carrying out the DGCA's instructions. 

Discipline against the named officials is in progress, and complete adherence to safety procedures continues to be our top priority. Ritu Shah, an aviation analyst, noted: "DGCA's response highlights increased scrutiny on Air India." It is evident that regulatory tolerance has reached its limit, even in the wake of a crash.

These regulatory requirements put Air India's operational resilience to the test, even though the airline is owned by the Tata Group and is continuously modernizing its fleet. As aviation safety continues to be a top priority, airlines and industry observers await more updates on the new wave of checks underway.