Indian airlines require regulations that are globally competitive
In an exclusive interview with CNBC-TV18, Bhatia emphasized the importance of maintaining safety but warned against regulations that could disadvantage Indian airlines relative to their international counterparts.
“Our primary request to the government has been to consider FDTL regulations from two perspectives. First, we must embrace global best practices,” he stated.
“However, if we implement regulations that, while ostensibly enhancing safety, render the industry uncompetitive due to decreased cockpit productivity, that’s a matter that needs careful scrutiny.”
Bhatia stressed that India cannot aim to be a premier international aviation center while burdening domestic airlines with a higher cost structure compared to global competitors.
“You cannot hope for India to become a global aviation hub and simultaneously expect its airlines to compete globally with an uncompetitive cost framework.”
When asked if the current FDTL framework diminishes the competitiveness of Indian aviation, Bhatia responded, “Yes, in terms of cockpit productivity, absolutely.”
IndiGo reports operational improvements following December disruptions
These remarks follow IndiGo’s extensive operational challenges in December, which attracted the attention of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The DGCA noted operational shortcomings, extreme optimization demands, and insufficient preparedness for the revised FDTL norms.
Bhatia conceded that the disruptions were unacceptable but assured that the airline had taken corrective steps to enhance operational performance significantly.
“We have operated for six months since December, and our on-time performance has never been better,” he noted.
“In this industry, you earn your wings every day. With over 2,000 flights daily, the operation runs quite smoothly.”
According to Bhatia, the disruptions stemmed from multiple simultaneous factors, including FDTL regulations, a comprehensive technology upgrade across the fleet, and challenges related to volcanic ash.
“I’ve publicly stated that December’s issues should have been avoided. Our customers and frontline employees did not deserve that,” he commented.
Leadership changes focusing on accountability and resilience
Bhatia explained that recent leadership changes were aimed at ensuring accountability for the December disruptions and preparing the airline for future growth.
“The modifications over the past three or four months have been rooted in two key areas: preparing the company for what lies ahead and holding individuals responsible for the events of December.”
He added that the airline’s emphasis is on creating a more resilient organization capable of supporting its long-term growth objectives.
“It’s a combination of factors. It’s not solely about one issue; it’s an assessment of what went wrong while simultaneously building resilience for the future.”
