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IndiGo Raises Pilot Allowances Effective Jan. 1 to Ease FDTL Strain

The carrier says the hikes support FDTL compliance ahead of a February deadline.

Overview

  • Captains' domestic layover allowance rises to Rs 3,000 per hour and First Officers' to Rs 1,500, with deadhead pay lifted to Rs 4,000 and Rs 2,000 per scheduled block hour respectively.
  • Night work now pays a flat Rs 2,000 per night hour for Captains and Rs 1,000 for First Officers, replacing the previous 1.5x multiplier on night block hours.
  • IndiGo adds a tail-swap fee of Rs 1,500 for Captains and Rs 750 for First Officers for qualifying aircraft changes, and introduces hourly domestic transit pay for halts over 90 minutes plus a Rs 1,000 meal allowance.
  • The revised allowances take effect on January 1, 2026, as the airline adapts to stricter FDTL rules that lengthen weekly rest to 48 hours, expand the night window to 00:00–06:00, and cap pilots at two night landings per week.
  • The company says the changes support operational stability under a regulator-approved reprieve through February, alongside plans to hire 158 pilots by then and reach 900 cumulative hires by late 2026.