IndiGo Developments: In the wake of a significant operational disruption that grounded India’s flights for nearly a week, IndiGo has rescinded its pilot hiring freeze, extending recruitment opportunities for its A320 fleet.
This decision follows a tumultuous period marked by extensive cancellations, attributed to recently amended government regulations concerning pilot rest periods, which have now been suspended.
On Friday and Saturday, IndiGo disseminated a notification via its website, inviting applications from captains and senior first officers (type-rated), effectively ending a hiring moratorium that had been in place for several months amidst ongoing cancellation woes.
IndiGo Reinitiates Pilot Recruitment
In its recent communication on Friday, IndiGo announced an urgent call for captains and senior first officers (type-rated) for its Airbus A320 operations.
The criteria for candidates vying for the senior first officer position stipulate an age limit of 55 years or younger, with a requirement for applicants to be either Indian nationals or holders of Indian-origin certificates.
Candidates must possess an active ATPL issued by the DGCA, with A320 qualification, in addition to valid FRTO, RTR, and Class 1 Medical certifications, as specified in the job announcement.
Furthermore, applicants must have accrued a minimum of 200 flight hours and maintain a flawless record devoid of any incidents or accidents at the time of submission.
IndiGo Confronts Government Policy Backlash
The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) had previously criticised IndiGo for imposing a hiring freeze, despite the recognition that the new civil aviation ministry’s FTDL regulations necessitated an expanded workforce to comply.
On December 5, the airline witnessed an unprecedented cancellation of over 1,000 flights in a single day, marking the most substantial operational disruption in its history.
Concurrently, the government suspended its FTDL mandates until February 10, 2026, which had originally instituted a requirement for 48 hours of rest per week, an increase from the prior 36 hours.
The next phase of these regulations, which took effect on November 1, adjusted the definition of “night” from 12 AM-5 PM to 12 AM-6 PM and limited the number of permitted night landings to two, down from six, affecting all domestic airlines.
Regulatory Scrutiny Intensifies
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued show-cause notices to IndiGo’s CEO Pieter Elbers and Accountable Manager Isidro Porqueras. They are required to provide justifications within a 24-hour timeframe regarding the extensive flight disruptions.
“As CEO, you bear the responsibility for ensuring the airline is managed efficiently; your failure to secure timely operational arrangements and adequate passenger facilities is concerning,” stated the notice addressed to Elbers.
In its latest communiqué, IndiGo reported that it successfully operated 1,500 flights over the weekend, with more than 9% of network connectivity now restored, managing services to 135 of the 138 destinations currently in its operational portfolio.
Source link: Livemint.com.
