The Morning Brief How IndiGo and Air Travel Unravelled
10 snips
Dec 9, 2025 In a gripping discussion, Arindam Majumdar, an Economic Times aviation reporter, delves into IndiGo’s operational collapse, detailing the impact of ignored fatigue rules and poor planning. Ameya Joshi, a network planning expert, analyzes pilot rostering failures and the resultant chaos. Capt. Amit Singh, a former head of pilot training, highlights the flaws in regulatory oversight and safety protocols. The trio explores whether the crisis was mismanaged or a deliberate push for regulatory exemptions, revealing deep cracks in India’s aviation industry.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Long Notice, Short Preparation
- New pilot rest rules were announced 20 months before the crisis, forcing airlines to change rostering significantly.
- IndiGo largely failed to hire and prepare despite long notice, creating systemic unpreparedness.
Pilots Deadheaded Between Bases
- IndiGo was caught short of around 65 captains and ran with almost no buffer as rules tightened.
- Pilots were shifted from small bases to big hubs and deadheaded extensively, stretching crews thin.
Small Tech Fix, Big Operational Impact
- A software update from Airbus added operational strain by consuming crew/aircraft time in an already stressed network.
- Even short technical tasks can tip a marginally stretched network into collapse.