IndiGo Pilot Shortage: India’s largest airline, IndiGo, is facing significant flight delays and cancellations due to a shortage of pilots and crew members.
Table of Contents
IndiGo Pilot Shortage
IndiGo Pilot Shortage: India’s largest airline, IndiGo, is facing significant flight delays and cancellations due to a shortage of pilots and crew members. Strict rest and duty time limitations (FDTL), implemented from November 1, have exacerbated this crisis, impacting dozens of flights across the country on Wednesday. Passengers faced wait times of up to seven hours, while the number of cancelled flights increased at airports like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
Impact of New Rules
The new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules mandate a mandatory 48-hour weekly rest period and strict restrictions on duty hours to prevent pilot fatigue. These rules were phased in from July 2025 and came into full effect on November 1. Although aviation regulator DGCA had granted some temporary exemptions, airlines like IndiGo are facing a crew shortage after full implementation.
Over the past few weeks, IndiGo’s operations team has requested pilots on sick leave to return soon and asked others to cancel special leave. The Airlines Pilots Association (ALPA), a pilot organization, has alleged misinterpretation of these rules in a meeting with the Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The organization says airlines are misusing the rules to deal with the crisis.
Wednesday’s Situation(IndiGo Pilot Shortage)
On Wednesday, 70 flights were cancelled from Mumbai and Bengaluru, 42 of which were from Bengaluru and 32 from Mumbai. Additionally, 19 flights (both arrivals and departures) were cancelled in Hyderabad, while Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport reported cancellations for the second consecutive day. Several flights, including the Mumbai-Maldives flight, were affected due to crew no-shows.
According to government data, only 35% of IndiGo flights arrived on time on December 2, compared to 49.5% on December 1. On Tuesday night, a global glitch in the Amadeus software disrupted the check-in process for an hour, affecting other airlines like Air India, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet. Additionally, a software update on Airbus A320 aircraft caused some delays, though IndiGo claimed it did not result in any cancellations.
Passengers are furious. Social media has been flooded with complaints, with people reporting long waits, refund issues, and a lack of alternative flights. One passenger tweeted, “IndiGo has cheated again, flight cancelled after a seven-hour wait!” Chaos prevailed at airports, especially in metro cities.
Airline’s View
IndiGo issued a statement saying, “IndiGo has issued a statement saying, ‘Over the past few days, technical issues, airport congestion, and operational requirements have caused delays and cancellations for some flights. Our teams are working to restore normalcy as soon as possible.’” The company has offered affected passengers the option of alternative flights or a full refund and advised them to check their flight status before going to the airport.
According to the CFO, the new FDTL rules will result in a slight increase in operating costs, but safety is being prioritized. IndiGo stated that the recruitment process has been expedited to address the crew shortage.
Broader Context
The Indian aviation sector is already grappling with a pilot shortage. The implementation of the new rules has led to an increase in reports of fatigue, which the DGCA has aimed to address by strengthening safety. Experts believe this crisis is short-lived, but passengers may face further inconvenience in the coming days. Other airlines, such as SpiceJet, are also lagging behind in punctuality.
If you are booking an IndiGo flight, be sure to check status updates on the website. The DGCA has directed airlines to maintain transparency and inform passengers. This issue is on the radar of the Aviation Ministry, where a review meeting is expected soon.
Today, Tomorrow and all holiday updates on our social handles now – Click to join
Visit holidaysalerts.in homepage for today, tomorrow, Government, bank school, college and stock market holidays.
Faq’s(IndiGo Pilot Shortage)
Where to check daily holiday update on govt and bank holidays?
Visit HolidayAlerts.in homepage.