ALPA India flags ‘systemic failures’ behind mass flight disruptions
The Airlines Pilots' Association of India (ALPA India) has sharply questioned both airline managements and the aviation regulator after widespread flight disruptions across the country were linked to an alleged shortage of pilots. The association said the spate of cancellations, particularly the large-scale disruptions reported on December 3 reflect deeper structural issues involving poor manpower planning and inadequate regulatory oversight.
Pilot shortage or planning failure?
In a strongly worded statement, ALPA India argued that attributing the cancellations solely to the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) norms oversimplifies the issue. Instead, it points to a “failure of proactive resource planning” by major carriers, particularly those with dominant market share.
The association alleged that airlines may be leveraging the disruptions as a way to pressure the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to dilute the recently strengthened fatigue-management rules for commercial advantage.
ALPA India urged the DGCA to examine whether airlines have sufficient pilots before granting them flight slots or schedule approvals. This, the association said, becomes crucial in the context of India’s transition to a more scientific fatigue risk management system (FRMS), under which pilot availability and rest requirements are central to operational safety. Continuous exemptions from FDTL norms without rigorous assessment, they warned, would compromise both passenger and crew safety.
IndiGo Airlines was the most visibly affected, with more than 100 flights cancelled nationwide on December 3 alone. The airline cited multiple operational challenges, including winter schedule transitions, adverse weather, airspace congestion, technology glitches, and the shift to updated crew-rostering rules under the new FDTL norms.
The DGCA has asked IndiGo to submit a detailed explanation of the causes behind the disruptions, as well as its recovery plan. The airline responded that it has initiated “calibrated adjustments” to its schedules for the next 48 hours to stabilise operations and restore punctuality.
Data released by the DGCA shows that IndiGo cancelled 1,232 flights in November, of which 755 were directly linked to the FDTL norms that came into full effect on November 1. The airline’s on-time performance also dropped sharply from 84.1% in October to 67.7% in November.
The revised Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) 2024 mandates longer rest periods for flight crews following concerns over chronic pilot fatigue. While 15 of the 22 proposed clauses were implemented on July 1, the remaining norms were enforced from November.
Aviation experts and union representatives argue that the recent disruptions may be an “immature pressure tactic” to force the regulator to ease fatigue-management rules, thereby undermining their original safety intent.
The pilots’ body also pointed to signs of systemic issues across other carriers. It noted that Air India, currently in an aggressive expansion phase has been accused by unions of misusing certain FDTL waivers, further suggesting that fatigue-management compliance is an industry-wide concern.
For Akasa Air, ALPA India highlighted that the airline previously faced an excess pilot situation due to delayed aircraft deliveries, implying it may be better positioned to absorb additional slots if aircraft induction aligns with its operational plans.
Emphasising that pilot fatigue remains one of the most critical aviation safety risks, ALPA India reiterated that FDTL relaxations should only be granted based on scientific evaluation and robust mitigation measures. Any pressure to dilute the norms, would run counter to the core purpose of strengthening crew rest requirements and ensuring safer skies for passengers and crew.