New Delhi: In a damning revelation, the IndiGo Pilots Association (IPA) has accused the airline’s management of deliberately cancelling hundreds of flights to coerce pilots into working beyond mandated rest periods and accepting unfavourable rosters.
In a strongly-worded letter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the IPA claimed the current meltdown — over 1,200 cancellations in November alone — is not merely due to aircraft grounding or spare-part shortages but also stems from an “acute pilot shortage, poor manpower planning, and punitive management practices”.
Sources say IndiGo is short of nearly 200-250 commanders and first officers, forcing the airline to lean heavily on existing crew.
The association alleges that flights are being cancelled at the last minute to “punish” pilots who refuse extra duties or raise fatigue concerns, creating a fear psychosis. “This is a deliberate pressure tactic to extract more flying hours without addressing the root cause,” an IPA office-bearer told ABP Live on condition of anonymity.
Pilots further assert that despite repeated warnings about roster instability and fatigue risks, management has ignored them, publicly blaming only technical issues and demand surges.
The DGCA has taken note of the situation and requested an immediate response from IndiGo, as sources suggest that they are tightening their oversight of Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) compliance.
Meanwhile, thousands of passengers continue to suffer as the airline’s on-time performance languishes at a historic low.
As the blame game intensifies from the cockpit to the boardroom, a pressing question remains: will India’s largest carrier resolve its internal turmoil before further trust collapses?