India's largest carrier, IndiGo, is targeting a return to full operational stability by December 10 following days of significant flight disruptions, a senior airline official stated. The airline has committed to conducting a thorough "root cause analysis" to understand the combination of factors that led to the chaos, which saw hundreds of flights cancelled over the past week.
Operations Gradually Stabilizing
The situation, which peaked this week, is showing signs of improvement. After operating only about 1,500 flights on Saturday, the airline expected to fly 1,650 flights on Sunday. This number, however, remains substantially lower than its typical daily schedule of approximately 2,300 flights. The official confirmed that the disruptions are easing and the focus is squarely on normalizing operations.
Pilot Buffer, Not Numbers, Cited as Issue
Addressing speculation about a pilot shortage, the official firmly denied any deficiency in pilot numbers. "Our pilot numbers are fine while we may not have the luxury of having a buffer," the official explained. The core issue appears to be crew planning challenges linked to the implementation of the second phase of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms, which came into effect on November 1. These regulations mandate a reduced number of night landings for pilots.
The official contrasted IndiGo's position with other airlines, noting that competitors had a "better buffer" in terms of pilot rosters. "We did not have the same kind of buffer. But that does not mean that there is a question of inadequacy, no. These are two different things," the official stressed, adding that there is no hiring freeze at the airline.
Regulatory Scrutiny and Future Preparedness
The disruptions have drawn regulatory action. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued show cause notices to IndiGo's CEO Pieter Elbers and Accountable Manager Isidro Porqueras, demanding explanations for the widespread cancellations.
Looking ahead, the airline official termed the current situation a "learning experience." While the root cause analysis will reveal the exact planning lapses, the airline expressed confidence in its preparedness for the upcoming fog season, asserting it has adequate aircraft and pilots to manage those challenges.
