Flight disruptions: Did IndiGo wait too long with pilot recruitment to follow DGCA flight rules?

IndiGo began recruiting new pilots only in November 2025 — months after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had notified the revised flight time limits (FDTL) norms and in the final stage of implementation — raising questions about whether manpower planning delays have contributed to the airline’s severe operational disruptions.

IndiGo’s website shows that on November 5, 2025, the airline issued a recruitment call for A320 captains and senior positions, inviting Indian citizens and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders below the age of 62 years with at least 3,000 total flight hours and at least 100 hours as Pilot in Command (PIC) after the release of the A320 family line.

The parallel recruitment notification for first officers restricted eligibility to Indian nationals and OCIs below the age of 55, requiring a minimum of 200 hours of post-launch experience for the line on A320 aircraft and a clean safety record.

The timing of the recruitment raised eyebrows. The DGCA notified the revised FDTL framework with immediate effect on 31 May 2024, requiring initial compliance from 1 June 2024. While full implementation was eventually postponed to a phased rollout between 1 July 2025 and 1 November 2025, airlines were given more than a year’s notice to align their fleets, rosters and workforce with the new system to mitigate fatigue.

What has changed under the new FDTL rules

The revised rules – introduced after an extensive review of fatigue reports and global standards – have significantly tightened operations:

• • 48 continuous hours of weekly rest for pilots
• • Night has been redefined to be from 00:00 to 06:00 instead of 00:00 to 05:00
• • Maximum landing of two nights per shift, down from six
• • No more than two consecutive nights’ duties
• • Prepare mandatory quarterly fatigue reports and roster recalibration

The DGCA emphasized that the reviews aim to reduce risks associated with fatigue, especially during early morning departures and night operations, and to bring India closer to international safety standards.

Unrest is increasing as new rules emerge

In November 2025 – coinciding with the final rollout period – IndiGo saw a significant operational decline. According to data the airline shared with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation:

• • 1,232 flights were canceled in November
• • 755 cancellations were directly linked to crew availability and Defense Force restrictions
• • On-time performance (OTP) fell sharply from 84.1% in October to 67.7% in November, and fell further in early December.

The airline, known for its industry-leading punctuality, is now at one of its lowest OTPs in years.

Pilots’ unions blame delayed preparation

Pilot bodies claim that the crisis does not stem from the rules, but from a prolonged lack of staffing at IndiGo.

The Indian Airlines Pilots Association (ALPA) said the disruptions reflected a “failure of proactive resource planning” by major airlines, warning that pressure may now be used to pressure the regulator to relax safety enhancement standards.

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) was more direct, calling the chaos “a direct result of IndiGo’s protracted and unconventional strategy of lean manpower,” especially in flight operations. The group also said there are growing concerns that operational disruptions could become a tool for “arm-twisting regulators” when rules are inappropriate.

IndiGo’s hiring delay is now under the spotlight

With the new FDTL limits fully effective from November 1, and disruptions continuing into December, IndiGo’s decision to begin large-scale hiring of only captains and first officers in early November has become a focal point in the debate on pilot fatigue, airline readiness, and industry-wide operational resilience.

It remains to be seen whether the new recruitment drive will be enough to stabilize operations – and whether the DGCA will hold airlines accountable for manpower lapses.