Pilot bodies flags gaps in IndiGo’s manpower, planning

Pilot groups have alleged that IndiGo’s failure to adequately prepare for the rollout of new flight duty and rest norms for cockpit crew, despite a two-year lead time, is at the core of the large-scale disruption that resulted in cancellation of hundreds of flights for the past few days.

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) said the airline “inexplicably” adopted a “hiring freeze,” resulting in an avoidable manpower crunch. The body has urged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) not to approve airlines’ seasonal schedules unless they have sufficient staff to operate services “safely and reliably” under the New Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms.