IndiGo Employees Speak Out: Is the Airline's Crisis a Result of Poor Planning?

In the wake of significant flight disruptions, IndiGo employees have released an open letter criticizing management for poor planning and lack of support for frontline staff. The letter highlights the challenges faced by employees during the chaos and calls for accountability and transparency regarding the decisions that led to the crisis. With new regulatory deadlines looming, the staff argue that the situation was exacerbated by management's actions, turning them into scapegoats for the fallout. This situation raises questions about the airline's operational strategies and the well-being of its employees.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 6, 2025, 18:29 IST

IndiGo Staff Raise Concerns Over Recent Flight Disruptions

Mumbai: Amid significant flight cancellations and turmoil at major airports, a so-called 'open letter' from IndiGo's workforce, which includes pilots, cabin crew, and ground personnel, is gaining traction on social media. This letter asserts that the recent disruptions were not merely operational failures but rather indicative of poor planning and inadequate frontline protection.

The individuals who signed the letter claim that frontline employees faced the brunt of passenger frustration and hostility, while the decisions leading to the chaos were made far removed from the actual situation. They highlight that the timing and extent of the cancellations coincide with a new regulatory deadline concerning crew-duty regulations, suggesting that the crisis was allowed to worsen, effectively using frontline staff as 'leverage' in a regulatory dispute.

The letter states, 'We did not create the rosters. We did not halt hiring. We did not postpone our readiness. Yet we bore the entire public burden.' The employees are demanding public acknowledgment of responsibility, protection for frontline staff, transparency regarding whether regulatory pressures influenced decisions, and guarantees that such a crisis will not happen again.

One individual who shared the letter online mentioned that it was received as a forwarded message via WhatsApp.

However, the authenticity of this document remains unverified.

Understanding FDTL Regulations

Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules restrict the number of hours a crew member can operate. These regulations limit flying to a maximum of eight hours per day, 35 hours weekly, 125 hours monthly, and 1,000 hours annually.

Additionally, these norms require rest periods: each crew member must have downtime equal to twice their flight time, ensuring at least 10 hours of rest within any 24-hour period.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) implemented these regulations to guarantee that pilots and cabin crew receive adequate rest, preventing fatigue that could jeopardize safety.