IndiGo's Pilot Crunch: 10% Flight Cut Amid Staffing Crisis

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India's largest airline, IndiGo, has been forced to reduce its flight schedule by 10% due to a severe pilot shortage. The airline, which had been approved for a 6% increase in flights, saw over 5,500 flights cancelled in the first nine days of December. According to government data, IndiGo's pilot count has dropped by 7% between March and December, from 5,463 to 5,085. This is in stark contrast to Air India, which saw a 93% increase in pilots over the same period. SpiceJet's pilot count also rose by 4.5% during this time. The new crew rostering norms, introduced in January 2024, aimed to reduce pilot fatigue and improve safety. However, IndiGo's inability to meet the new flight duty timing limits led to a severe staffing crisis. The airline's decision to cancel flights has been widely criticized, with some analysts accusing IndiGo of 'blackmailing' the government into relaxing the norms. Captain Ron Hay, president of the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations, expressed concern over the government's decision to grant an exemption to the rest rules. "This is troubling as fatigue clearly affects safety," he said. A former airline executive also questioned the airline's decision, calling it 'suicidal' and 'unjustified.' The pilots' bodies, including the Airline Pilots Association of India and the Federation of Indian Pilots, have accused IndiGo of failing to plan proactively for the new norms. They have also pointed out that the airline's lean manpower strategy has exacerbated the staffing crisis. IndiGo's dominance in the Indian market, with over 65% of the domestic market share, has raised concerns about the airline's ability to meet the new norms. The airline's failure to adapt to the revised crew fatigue rules has led to widespread disruptions, with over 4,500 flights cancelled between December 1 and 8.