IndiGo Crisis: Aviation Minister Responds to Rahul Gandhi's Monopoly Allegations Amid Nationwide Flight Disruptions

Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has issued a firm response to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's allegations regarding the ongoing IndiGo crisis.

The Civil Aviation Minister emphasized that the current situation should be viewed as a public issue rather than a political matter. "The government has consistently worked to enhance competition in the aviation sector," Naidu stated.

Highlighting government initiatives, he mentioned the introduction of legislation designed to reduce aircraft leasing costs, enabling airlines to expand their fleets. "I've always advocated for increased competition. Aviation demand across the country continues to rise, creating opportunities for new entrants to the sector—something the government actively supports," he explained.

Naidu suggested that Gandhi should gather complete information before making statements, adding, "It would be beneficial if he spoke with comprehensive understanding of the situation."

Earlier, Gandhi had attributed the IndiGo crisis to what he termed the government's "monopoly model." The opposition leader posted on X: "IndiGo fiasco is the cost of this Government's monopoly model. Once again, ordinary Indians pay the price—in delays, cancellations and helplessness. India deserves fair competition in every sector, not match-fixing monopolies."

The ongoing crisis has resulted in hundreds of daily flight cancellations over several days, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at airports nationwide.

At the heart of the disruption is IndiGo's failure to implement new flight safety regulations that align with international standards and address pilot fatigue—a significant factor in aviation accidents. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced these regulations in January last year and began phased implementation, but IndiGo failed to manage its crew according to the revised schedules, causing a breakdown in its operations.

The aviation regulator has temporarily suspended implementation of the new standards as IndiGo works to restore normalcy to its operations.