IndiGo suspends 5 pilots for protesting pay cuts, may act against 15 more

A group of IndiGo pilots are trying to report sick on Tuesday protesting, delay of restoration of salary cuts

India’s largest airline IndiGo has started disciplinary action against its pilots who are trying to organise a strike tomorrow. Till now the airline has suspended five pilots—in what is the first case of action against organised labour protest the airline witnessed in its inception.

Sources said that while five pilots have been suspended, the airline is contemplating disciplinary action against 15 more.

A group of pilots in IndiGo are protesting against delay in restoration of salary cuts which were induced in phase during two years of the pandemic. While the airline had recently announced an eight per cent hike in the salary with effect from April 1, pilots are unhappy saying that despite the number of flights reaching pre-Covid level, they will still face a 20 per cent cut in their salary.

The pilots have planned to report sick at the last moment and not attend to their flying duties tomorrow in order to protest against the management.

The airline, wary of any disruption to operation, has warned its pilots from reporting sick at the last moment. Fleet supervisors at various bases have also been asked to check on pilots to refrain them from joining the strike.

Sources in the airline management said that the company doesn’t expect any disruption in operation as sick leaves reported for tomorrow is around one-fifth of what the airline witnesses during normal days. It also has the option of pulling out standby crew to operate flights in case of disruption.

However, management has communicated to pilots saying that even though the number of flights have increased, utilisation of the fleet is still at around 11 hours against 13.5 hours in 2019.

Pointing out that 2.5 hours reduction in utilisation of each aircraft means that 100 percent of the fleet is not yet in operation, the management had told pilots that there will be one more round of hike if there is no disruption.

IndiGo is operating at pre-COVID level with the airline operating 1,450 flights yesterday and any amss sick reporting will lead to cancellation of flights leading to loss of revenue. Before the pandemic grounded operations, the airline was operating around 1,550 flights per day.

“We confirm that a handful of IndiGo pilots have been suspended from duty for indulging in activities that are in contravention to the terms of their employment and in violation of the code of conduct of the Company,” the airline said in a statement.

The code of conduct of IndiGo’s employment laws prohibits formation of any workers union. IndiGo, which has more than 50 percent market share, has around 4,000 pilots on its payroll and is the biggest employer in the Indian aviation industry.

In India, Air India pilots have recognized unions like the Indian Commercial Pilots Association and Indian Pilots Guild. Jet Airways also had a recognized pilots’ union- National Aviators Guild.

India’s aviation regulator DGCA said that it is a safety regulator and it will not get involved in what it sees as a bilateral issue between an employer and employee. “DGCA is a safety regulator and we do not see any role for us in the current dispute, if any, between the two parties,” DGCA head Arun Kumar said.