Understanding Indigo flight issues: Pilot association alleges it's artificially created by the airline; here's why

A day on which airports across the country are affected by numerous Indigo flight cancellations, many causes were cited by the airline and other stakeholders for the development. While Indigo says the disruptions are due to the implementation of updated Flight Duty Time Limitation (FTDL) rules to improve the rest and safety of pilots and crew, alongside weather conditions and tech issues, the Federation of Indian Pilots said the disruptions are primarily due to crew shortages. Captain CS Randhawa, President of the Federation of Indian Pilots, said, "Indigo pilots were flying about 55 to 57 hours. After 1st November, they offered pilots the option to buy back their leave... The crew rostering of the pilots was totally inappropriate. They did not plan the crews correctly." 

At the same time, speaking to PTI, Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA India) President Sam Thomas alleged that the disruptions are artificially created to pressurise DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation). Sam said that this is not an unprecedented event. "It happens from time to time, particularly with Indigo Airlines. What we have been doing is bringing to the notice of DGCA that whenever rules are promulgated that are not in favour of the airline, they, like spoilt children, delay flights, cause disruptions, and cause public inconvenience to put pressure on the ministry and DGCA to get their way. This is to put it mildly," he said. 

Sam, who said that India is the only country in the world where passenger convenience takes precedence over passenger safety, explained that sufficient time was given before rolling out FTDL. Now, the airline claims they don't have the required number of pilots to operate flights on time. "These pressure tactics have always been used. But thanks to DGCA this time, they said this is too old a tactic," he said. Even with winter challenges, airlines still need to plan sufficient backup, he said. The ALPA President also accused Indigo of fraudulent practices to establish that it reaches destinations earlier than the previously announced time.