When strength becomes weakness

YET WHILE THE rules apply universally, full-service carriers like Air India have weathered the change with far less disruption, their on-time performance holding steadier amid the same fog and congestion, thanks to conservative rostering and buffers built during the grace period.

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Pilot bodies like the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) and Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA) call it a "prolonged, unorthodox lean manpower strategy" that IndiGo pursued despite ample warning. November alone saw 1,232 cancellations, 755 pinned directly to crew and FDTL shortages, pushing monthly on-time performance down to 67.7% from October’s 84.1% -- a slide that predated this week's meltdown. FIP accuses the carrier of a hiring freeze, non-poaching pacts with rivals, and pilot pay stagnation amid "cartel-like behaviour,' even as executives pocketed 100%. Post-July's first phase, IndiGo slashed leave quotas; after November, it allegedly tried buying back pilot leave to