Indian Aviation in Turmoil: Flight Cancellations, Crew Shortages Continue

Published on: October 04, 2024 - Indian aviation is in crisis. Airlines are grappling with flight cancellations, crew shortages and rising passenger complaints about poor service. The sector is facing a lot of criticisms due to escalating operational costs, with pilot shortages, limited infrastructure, and a tight cost-efficiency model adding to the pressure. Most leading airlines in India operate under severe stress, frequently resulting in abrupt flight cancellations, unannounced delays and compromised customer service. The low-cost model, which dominates the market, leaves airlines with minimal back-up crew and aircraft. This means a pilot's absence or a delay on one route can trigger a domino effect, leading to widespread disruptions. Just yesterday, an IndiGo flight from Pune to Bengaluru faced a five-hour delay after the pilot declined to operate the aeroplane, reportedly citing that his duty hours had ended. The flight, which was scheduled to take off at 12:45 am from Pune, finally departed at 5:44 am and landed in Bengaluru at 6:49 am. In another incident today, passengers onboard an Air India Express flight from Kerala’s Trivandrum to Muscat in Oman were deboarded after smoke was detected on the aircraft shortly before take-off. As India remains the world’s fastest-growing aviation market, the question now is - will the sector recover?