Alpa India Warns Air India Express Board: Rostering Misuse Risks Safety and Disruption

The Airline Pilots' Association of India (Alpa India) issued a stern warning. The warning went to the board of Air India Express (AI Express). Alpa India flagged alleged Air India Express rostering misuse. This misuse is by the airline's rostering authority. The association warns of safety risks and service disruption. They compared the situation to recent events at IndiGo.

Allegations of Retaliatory Scheduling

Alpa India sent a letter to the board on Monday. The letter detailed allegations of "improper rostering". It also cited "unfair treatment" and a "retaliatory and ego-driven mindset". The association noted punitive actions against pilots who raise concerns. Rostering holds significant power over pilot fatigue and safety outcomes. It also impacts pilot morale and retention.

The association cited two specific examples. Both incidents involved rostering staff seen on social media. In one case, a manager allegedly boasted about retaliation. This retaliation targeted pilots who declined roster changes. They declined for personal or family reasons. In the second instance, a staff member was seen. They prioritized personal grooming over the pilot hotline. This hotline is a safety-critical communication channel. Alpa India stated this conduct was unprofessional. It reflects an intent to instill fear. This is instead of solving issues with empathy.

IndiGo Disruption and Regulatory Context

The letter specifically cautioned against “scheduling pressures”. It drew a direct parallel to the IndiGo-like disruptions. IndiGo faced mass flight cancellations in early December. This Air India Express operational disruption risk is due to similar pressures. IndiGo's chaos stemmed from poor roster planning. The airline failed to prepare for tighter safety regulations.

India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), recently tightened rules. These new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules took effect in 2025. The DGCA increased the minimum weekly rest for pilots. Rest was raised from 36 to 48 hours. The regulator also mandated new measures. These include mandatory fatigue management training for schedulers. Airlines must also submit quarterly fatigue reports. Alpa India stressed that a Tata-owned Air India subsidiary must follow a just culture. This is essential for a safety-critical airline.

Systemic rostering issues have affected the group before. The parent company, Air India, faced DGCA action. This occurred in June 2025 over crew safety violations. The DGCA ordered the removal of three senior rostering officials. This was due to “serious and repeated lapses”. These lapses included exceeding permissible duty hours. This history underscores the Alpa India safety warning.

Demands for Board Intervention

Alpa India seeks the board’s direct intervention. The association is urging a clear directive. This directive must state that retaliation is unacceptable. It must also oppose ego-driven scheduling. These practices conflict with the airline’s safety objectives.

The association's demands include specific actions:

• Mandate human factors training for all rostering staff.
• Approve a formal code of conduct for the department.
• Establish new pilot hotline protocols.
• Commission a comparative rostering audit.
• Develop a pilot-centric retention plan.

Stable and safe growth needs a rostering function. This function must be grounded in empathy and just culture. The allegations highlight a critical need for oversight. This is vital for aviation safety culture and stable operations. This news is important for commercial aviation news [https://flying.flights] readers. Air India Express has not yet provided a comment.