After Cancelling Over 5,000 Flights, IndiGo Moves to Hire 1,000+ Pilots in Major Recruitment Drive

New Delhi, February 14:
India’s largest airline IndiGo is preparing to recruit more than 1,000 pilots, marking one of the biggest hiring drives in the history of Indian aviation. The move comes after the airline faced severe operational disruption in early December, when it was forced to cancel over 5,000 flights within just seven days.

The cancellations were largely triggered by the implementation of new pilot rest regulations, which exposed a serious shortage of crew availability and disrupted the airline’s scheduling system.

Recruitment Across Multiple Pilot Categories

According to reports, IndiGo will be hiring pilots across various levels, including Trainee First Officers, Senior First Officers, and Captains. In a significant step, the airline is also open to recruiting pilots who do not have prior experience flying the Airbus A320, the aircraft type that dominates IndiGo’s fleet.

This flexible approach reflects the airline’s urgency to rebuild crew strength and stabilise operations.

DGCA Report Flags Insufficient Hiring and Training

An investigation by the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) revealed that IndiGo had not hired enough pilots or increased training capacity in time to comply with the newly enforced rest norms.

The DGCA noted that the lack of adequate recruitment and training expansion increased workload pressure on existing pilots, contributing to the large-scale cancellations witnessed in December.

Fleet Expansion Driving Demand for More Pilots

A senior official stated that IndiGo has been expanding its fleet rapidly, adding around four new aircraft every month. To support this growth, the airline has also launched an internal training programme under which 20 to 25 First Officers are upgraded to Captains every month.

With aggressive fleet expansion and high aircraft utilisation, the demand for qualified pilots has surged.

Strict DGCA Staffing Norms

Under DGCA regulations, airlines are expected to maintain three complete sets of pilots for each aircraft, typically consisting of a Captain and a First Officer. However, IndiGo’s requirement is even higher due to its heavy aircraft usage and high-frequency operations.

A DGCA inspection conducted in December found that IndiGo required 2,422 Captains, but had only 2,357 at the time. Following this, the regulator granted IndiGo temporary operational relaxations until February 10 to meet compliance requirements.

A Strategic Step Toward Operational Stability

The upcoming recruitment drive is seen as a crucial step for IndiGo to avoid future disruptions, strengthen compliance with safety regulations, and maintain its leadership position in India’s rapidly growing aviation market.

Industry experts believe that as air travel demand continues to rise, airlines will need to accelerate hiring and training efforts to prevent manpower shortages from impacting flight schedules and passenger experience.