IndiGo has announced a series of new and increased allowances for its pilots, effective January 1, in a bid to boost pilot morale following recent operational disruptions. The adjustments come shortly after the airline canceled about 4,500 flights earlier this month, an event that left hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded and led to increased regulatory investigation. The carrier, which controls about 65% of India’s domestic aviation market, faces close scrutiny from government agencies and industry regulators.
The newly introduced measures will see stopover allowances for captains increase from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000, while first officers will see an increase from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500. Additionally, the ‘dead head’ allowance – when crew members travel as passengers to reach a future duty location – will be increased from Rs 4,000 from Rs 3,000 for captains, and Rs 2,000 compared to Rs 1,500 for first officers, according to an internal email from Ashim Mittra, senior vice president of flight operations.
According to government data, IndiGo employs around 5,000 pilots.
The cancellations earlier this month prompted the Indian government to temporarily relax some regulations on pilots’ night missions to help stabilize IndiGo’s operations. The move drew criticism from pilot unions and safety advocates, who expressed concerns about its implications for crew welfare and flight safety.
A committee appointed by India’s aviation regulator conducted an investigation into the circumstances that led to the widespread cancellations and submitted its findings to the civil aviation ministry. Details of the report have not been made public.
Ratings agency Moody’s Ratings warned that the airline could suffer “significant financial damage” due to loss of revenue, customer refunds and sanctions imposed by Indian authorities.
IndiGo’s recent decision to adjust pilot compensation comes after executives visited various company bases to hold discussions with the flight crew. This commitment aimed to address pilots’ concerns and improve working conditions following the operational crisis.
The Indian government has also highlighted growing competition among domestic airlines to retain pilots, as foreign companies continue to lure Indian pilots with promises of better salaries and a better quality of life. To resolve this problem, the government has called for a global code of conduct on pilot recruitment.
