IndiGo’s cancellations of at least 4,500 flights and subsequent price surges following a scheduling crisis left thousands of passengers stranded two months ago.
Hearing PIL on aviation safety, court asked DGCA to justify withdrawal of new flight duty rules that barred airlines from substituting leave with weekly rest. Notices sent to IndiGo, DGCA, Centre.
Operator, already under scanner for near-mishap in 2023, attributes Baramati crash to 'pilot's decision', was flying Learjets despite landing gear defect flagged by US aviation watchdog in 2025.
Baramati airfield is uncontrolled, which means traffic information is provided by instructors or pilots from flying training organisations in the area, Ministry of Civil Aviation said.
Govt-appointed panel found multiple violations of aviation regulations & deficiencies in airline’s operational planning, crew management and oversight mechanisms.
The IndiGo crisis is nothing short of a threat to India’s stability. Could it be an experiment? Can this happen in any other crucial sector like power or railways?
Indian Pilots Guild alleged DGCA granted FDTL timeline extensions, approved airline-specific proposals that went against court orders. It filed contempt plea against DGCA chief.
The crisis also puts DGCA’s vacancies in the eye of the storm. Naidu told the Rajya Sabha in July this year that 190 out of 410 DGCA vacancies would be filled this year.
In FY 2025-26, AoN for 55 proposals amounting to Rs 6.73 lakh cr has been accorded by DAC. Both the quantum of AoN given and capital contracts signed, so far, have been the highest in any FY.
Great article, should also focus on how Indian airlines are among the few in the world that impose a strict age limit of 30 years for fresh pilots, making those above this threshold ineligible to apply. This policy has disproportionately affected aspiring pilots who, due to circumstances beyond their control, have been unable to secure employment.
The collapse of Jet Airways in 2019 led to experienced pilots taking available positions in existing airlines, significantly reducing opportunities for new pilots. This situation worsened with the impact of COVID-19 and was further compounded by GoAir’s downfall in 2023. As a result, many pilots who were 24 years old in 2017 aged out of eligibility by the time hiring resumed—despite investing significant time and money in their training. This effectively creates a system of age-based discrimination, penalizing pilots for industry disruptions beyond their control.
Additionally, while media reports highlight a pilot shortage, airlines continue to overlook unemployed pilots in favor of reducing costs. Instead of hiring sufficient staff, they opt to overwork existing pilots, even challenging court-mandated rest regulations designed to ensure passenger safety and pilot well-being. Rather than investing in adequate staffing, airlines justify their stance with misleading claims that improved work conditions would reduce flight availability and increase ticket prices. In reality, these cost-cutting measures come at the expense of both safety and operational efficiency.
Great article, should also focus on how Indian airlines are among the few in the world that impose a strict age limit of 30 years for fresh pilots, making those above this threshold ineligible to apply. This policy has disproportionately affected aspiring pilots who, due to circumstances beyond their control, have been unable to secure employment.
The collapse of Jet Airways in 2019 led to experienced pilots taking available positions in existing airlines, significantly reducing opportunities for new pilots. This situation worsened with the impact of COVID-19 and was further compounded by GoAir’s downfall in 2023. As a result, many pilots who were 24 years old in 2017 aged out of eligibility by the time hiring resumed—despite investing significant time and money in their training. This effectively creates a system of age-based discrimination, penalizing pilots for industry disruptions beyond their control.
Additionally, while media reports highlight a pilot shortage, airlines continue to overlook unemployed pilots in favor of reducing costs. Instead of hiring sufficient staff, they opt to overwork existing pilots, even challenging court-mandated rest regulations designed to ensure passenger safety and pilot well-being. Rather than investing in adequate staffing, airlines justify their stance with misleading claims that improved work conditions would reduce flight availability and increase ticket prices. In reality, these cost-cutting measures come at the expense of both safety and operational efficiency.
Well researched……mostly