IndiGo Blues

Extension of deadline for new safety rules has brought only short-term relief for the airline and passengers. With no easy fix, a permanent solution will need a lot more work and time

- RICHA SHARMA

IS IT OVER? It's a question that's top of mind for IndiGo flyers after a massive disruption in operations early December. The trigger was a government rule mandating more rest hours for pilots for which the airline was unprepared—it reportedly failed to hire enough, resulting in cancellation of hundreds of flights and forcing the government to give it an extension for a couple of months.

There is some semblance of stability for now, but what after February 10, when the new deadline for complying with the rules—termed Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL)—ends?

Experts see more pain in 2026 as hiring pilots in large number can take months. The airline is expected to need around 900 pilots, mainly commanders, by the end of 2026, due to planned expansion and the FDTL rules. The immediate requirement is 200. The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has already ordered the carrier to cut 10% of its domestic flights. This means 100-200 fewer flights per day.

The new year will be marked by capacity constraints on metro routes and high airfares. IndiGo accounts for 65% of the domestic aviation market.