IndiGo’s pilot numbers were a topic of regulatory scrutiny following massive disruption of its flights last December. The disruption occurred as the airline failed to adequately plan for revised pilot duty time norms.
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IndiGo added 330 pilots in FY 2026, the airline’s latest annual report shows. While the airline added 14 destinations and operated two per cent more flights compared to fiscal 2025, its total headcount rose by 858 to 41,907 employees. IndiGo ended FY 2026 with 5786 pilots and 11,203 cabin crew. During the year the airline added 991 cabin crew, the report shows.IndiGo’s pilot numbers were a topic of regulatory scrutiny following massive disruption of its flights last December. The disruption occurred as the airline failed to adequately plan for revised pilot duty time norms. The civil aviation regulator ordered a 10 per cent cut in IndiGo’s flights last December and gave it time till February 2026 to implement the new norms.According to reports IndiGo is also planning to hire 1,000 pilots to keep pace with its expansion plans.Meanwhile in a message to shareholders, IndiGo’s managing director Rahul Bhatia said the airline continues to strengthen its position as India’s leading airline while expanding its reach across both domestic and international markets. “During the year, we operated over 2,150 daily flights across more than 140 destinations, connecting people, businesses, and communities across India and the world. We remain focused on strengthening India’s aviation infrastructure ecosystem and building greater long-term self-reliance in maintenance and technical capabilities,” The airline is building a MRO in Bengaluru in addition to existing engineering facilities. “Our priorities remain clear: to maintain operational excellence, deliver superior customer experiences, strengthen financial resilience, advance sustainability initiatives, and continue creating long term value for our shareholders,” he added.Published on July 28, 2026
