- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Sat, 14 Feb 2026 04:52 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
India’s largest airline, IndiGo, is planning to recruit over 1,000 pilots as it looks to stabilise operations following large-scale flight cancellations in December last year.
According to a report by The Economic Times, the recruitment drive will include trainee first officers, senior first officers and captains. If completed as planned, it would mark one of the largest pilot hiring initiatives undertaken by an Indian carrier.
The report stated that the airline is also open to hiring candidates without prior experience flying the Airbus A320, which forms the backbone of IndiGo’s fleet. The move signals the airline’s intent to expand its talent pool amid rapid fleet growth.
Under revised internal policies, the airline has limited the number of landings a pilot can undertake between midnight and 6 am. Weekly rest requirements have also been increased in line with regulatory changes.
A senior official cited in the report said IndiGo is stepping up pilot recruitment to support its expanding fleet. The airline inducts an average of four aircraft per month and promotes around 20-25 first officers to captains each month through its internal training programme.
In December, IndiGo was forced to cancel more than 5,000 flights within a span of seven days due to a severe shortage of pilots and crew.
An investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) found that the airline had not hired or trained sufficient pilots to comply with new aviation regulations. The probe noted operational strain caused by frequent crew transfers, extended duty hours and prolonged standby periods.
The airline reportedly required 2,422 captains but had only 2,357 at the time, leading to roster gaps and widespread cancellations.
The fresh recruitment drive is aimed at preventing similar disruptions in the future while supporting IndiGo’s continued network expansion.