IndiGo Crisis: Pilot Shortage, New Rules & Low Pay Hit Indian Air Travel

• Indigo's operational crisis led to over 5000 flight cancellations since Dec 2, disrupting Indian air travel due to pilot shortages and raising concerns about pilot working conditions.
• The crisis is linked to Indigo's failure to implement new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules, effective Nov 1, which increase mandatory weekly pilot rest to 48 hours and limit night flying.
• The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) accused Indigo of negligence in adopting FDTL rules, alleging a hiring freeze and 'cartel' practices to keep pilot salaries low despite two years to prepare.
• While new FDTL rules align Indian pilot rest with international standards, their salaries (entry-level and senior captain) are considerably lower than those in developed countries like Australia, Canada, and the USA.
• Indian pilots are dissatisfied with stagnant wages, often earning less than a decade ago, and poor operational planning by airlines, which they say forces them to work excessive hours.

Why It Matters: Indian aviation crisis exposes pilot exploitation and airline mismanagement.