IndiGo is facing a shortage of pilots after new government rules to combat fatigue and boost rest periods for pilots kicked in on July 1 and November 1, complicating roster management. In a statement, IndiGo said its operations have been "significantly disrupted" for the past two days, citing unforeseen issues including adverse weather conditions and increased congestion as well as the implementation of updated crew rostering rules by the Indian government.
The airline also drew the attention of aviation watchdog, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which flagged IndiGo's ‘crew and FDTL (flight duty time limitations) constraints’ as contributing factors to the disruptions that affected passenger travel. Let's recap.
IndiGo says it is attempting "calibrated adjustments" and expects operations to stabilise within around 48 hours. The airline is redeploying crew across high-stress routes, modifying night schedules, conducting pre-planned cancellations to avoid last-minute chaos and reorganising aircraft and crew rotations.
