“By increasing the number of flights in their winter schedule, it has potentially hoarded premium slots which rivals would have liked and then failed to operate them satisfactorily. It suggests a misuse of the process, intentionally or not,” he charged

Under the Slot Recapture Policy, the DGCA has the mechanism to revoke the slots and reallocate them to other airlines. It could be done to Air India, which is in an expansion phase, as well as Akasa Air, which has an excess of pilots.

The Association urged the DGCA to actively consider the adequacy of pilots available with an airline while granting slots and approving their schedules in the spirt of transitioning to the recent concept of Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS).

The ALPA also charged the airline of an initial managerial underestimation or delay in the strategic planning necessary to provision crew accordingly.

Despite sufficient time being accorded, most Airlines, started preparing rather late, failing to properly adjust crew roster, he added.  

All airlines, including IndiGo, were aware of the revised rostering rules (Flight Duty Time Limitation FDTL) norms, issued by the DGCA in January 2024 (with a phased implementation starting later, for example, the second phase from November 1).