IndiGo, India’s largest airline, has announced a significant increase in several pilot allowances, effective January 1, 2026. The move comes after the airline faced major operational challenges this month, including mass flight cancellations that affected travellers across the country.
According to internal company communications, the airline has increased pilots' pay in several key areas. Domestic layover allowances, which compensate pilots for time spent away from home while on duty, will increase by up to 50 per cent for layovers between 10 and 24 hours.
Under the new structure, captains will receive Rs. 3,000 (up from Rs. 2,000) and first officers will get Rs. 1,500 (up from Rs. 1,000). For layovers beyond 24 hours, captains and first officers will also earn higher hourly rates.
The airline is also increasing deadhead allowances — payments made when pilots travel as passengers to reach their duty location. These will rise by roughly 33 per cent: captains will earn Rs. 4,000 per scheduled block hour and first officers Rs. 2,000.
IndiGo has also revised its night-flying pay structure. Previously based on a multiplier of flight hours, it will now pay a flat rate of Rs. 2,000 per night hour for captains and Rs. 1,000 for first officers for work between midnight and 6 am.
For the first time, the airline will provide a “tail-swap allowance” to pilots who switch to a different aircraft during a duty period. Captains will receive Rs. 1,500 and first officers Rs. 750 for such swaps. Transit allowances for longer stops have also been adjusted.
These changes follow weeks of flight cancellations, where roughly 4,500 flights were cancelled due to staffing and rostering issues, leading to regulatory scrutiny and pressure on the airline’s operations.
IndiGo’s leadership says the revised allowance structure aims to boost pilot morale, improve retention, and stabilise operations after a challenging period for the airline.