IndiGo denies pilot crunch, begins deep dive into recent flight chaos

Amid the lack of proper crew planning while implementing the new flight duty norms being cited as a key reason for the significant operational disruptions, the official said the airline has adequate number of pilots and there is no deficiency.

IndiGo will conduct a comprehensive “root cause analysis” into the large-scale flight disruptions triggered by a mix of operational factors, a senior airline official told PTI on Sunday. The immediate focus, he said, is on stabilising services, with full normalisation expected by December 10.

Even as inadequate crew planning under the revised flight duty norms has been flagged as a major reason for the chaos, the official insisted the airline has sufficient pilots. “Our pilot numbers are fine while we may not have the luxury of having a buffer,” he said, denying any shortage.

He also dismissed speculation about a hiring freeze, stating that IndiGo continues to recruit and that its lean operating model is not responsible for the current crisis.

After five days of widespread cancellations, the situation is gradually improving. IndiGo, which typically operates around 2,300 daily flights, expects to run 1,650 flights on Sunday, up from 1,500 on Saturday.

The official said the disruptions stemmed from multiple triggers. “We will need a root cause analysis… the disruptions happened due to a combination of factors and which factor played how much role (will be known after the analysis),” he noted, calling the episode a significant learning experience.

The second phase of the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms, effective November 1, has reduced the number of night landings that pilots can undertake, tightening cockpit availability across airlines. While other carriers have not faced disruptions of this scale, the official said they “had a better buffer than IndiGo in terms of the number of pilots.” He added, “But that does not mean that there is a question of inadequacy, no.”

The DGCA has issued show-cause notices to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and Accountable Manager Isidro Porqueras, seeking explanations for the widespread operational failures.

On whether the chaos could have been avoided, the official said, “We will do our root cause analysis… and then we will come to know (what was the) planning lapse, if at all.”

As the fog season approaches, the airline expressed confidence in its preparedness, saying it has adequate aircraft and crew to navigate winter disruptions.