Following widespread cancellations at IndiGo last month due to unexpected absences of pilots, India’s aviation regulator has informed airlines that summer 2026 schedules will not be approved unless airlines demonstrate sufficient cockpit staffing. The summer timetable, which takes effect from March 29, traditionally introduces up to 12 percent more international frequencies to hubs in the Gulf and Southeast Asia.

DGCA officials told reporters on February 23 that airlines claiming lower reserve margins on the grounds of “exemption from fatigue risk management” will have to submit their crew rosters two weeks earlier than usual to quantify their emergency personnel. If carriers fail to comply, they risk slot withdrawal or reduction in approvals, a first for the Indian market.

For mobility planners moving expatriate engineers and project teams on shuttle routes such as Bangalore-Singapore and Kochi-Dubai, the directive could lead to seat capacity reductions and last-minute schedule adjustments until airlines prove resilience. Travel managers are encouraged to book flexible fares and closely monitor GDS schedule changes through mid-March.

In this atmosphere of potential disruption, VisaHQ can simplify at least part of the travel equation by expediting immigration clearance for both Indian nationals and newly arriving foreign professionals. The service helps secure e-visas and traditional stamps for over 200 destinations through its online platform (https://www.visahq.com/india/), enabling corporate travel planners to quickly redeploy staff in the event of flight schedule changes.

Industry analysts say the crackdown could accelerate the recruitment of foreign pilots, particularly from Eastern Europe, to fill the widebody shortage. However, this would require security clearance from India’s Ministry of Home Affairs, which could result in longer lead times for deployment.

In the longer term, the DGCA plans to publish a monthly ‘schedule reliability’ dashboard that ranks airlines by flight cancellation rates related to crew shortages. This is a measure of transparency that will be welcomed by corporate travel buyers seeking more predictable operations.