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IndiGo Raises Pilot Allowances, Adds Tail-Swap Pay as It Rebuilds After December Meltdown

The pay overhaul seeks to steady operations by aligning rosters with tougher duty-time rules that have curbed night flying.

Overview

  • From January 1, 2026, domestic layover pay rises to ₹3,000 per hour for captains and ₹1,500 for first officers, up from ₹2,000 and ₹1,000.
  • Deadhead allowances increase to ₹4,000 per scheduled block hour for captains and ₹2,000 for first officers, with night pay set at ₹2,000 and ₹1,000 per night hour.
  • IndiGo introduces a tail-swap allowance of ₹1,500 for captains and ₹750 for first officers, and will pay domestic transit allowances for halts exceeding 90 minutes.
  • The revisions follow early-December mass cancellations tied to new FDTL norms that extend weekly rest to 48 hours and sharply restrict permitted night landings.
  • The carrier faces a DGCA-ordered 10% winter schedule cut and a one-time FDTL reprieve until February as it targets 158 pilot hires by February toward 900 by late 2026.