Indian Government Takes Firm Action Against IndiGo Following Massive Flight Cancellations and Passenger Disruptions

Civil Aviation Minister Naidu addressed the IndiGo crisis in Lok Sabha today, delivering a firm message regarding airline accountability and passenger rights.

New Delhi:

Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu made it clear to Parliament that no airline will be allowed to cause inconvenience to passengers, emphasizing that safety remains non-negotiable. This statement comes as the government begins its crackdown on IndiGo following airport chaos caused by numerous flight cancellations that left thousands of passengers stranded.

Addressing the Lok Sabha, Naidu reported that IndiGo operations are gradually returning to normal conditions. "Airports are now functioning without overcrowding or passenger distress. Refunds, baggage tracking, and passenger support services continue to be closely monitored by the ministry," he stated.

The minister assured that accountability measures are being implemented. "The DGCA has issued show cause notices to IndiGo's senior leadership and initiated a comprehensive enforcement investigation. Based on the findings, appropriate and strict actions will be taken under the aircraft rules and Act," Naidu confirmed.

"No airline, regardless of its size, will be permitted to subject passengers to such hardships through planning failures or non-compliance with statutory provisions. Safety in civil aviation is absolutely non-negotiable," he emphasized, adding that India remains committed to maintaining the highest global safety standards.

Regarding the revised flight duty time limitations that precipitated IndiGo's crew crisis, the minister explained they are scientifically designed to prevent pilot fatigue and are being implemented to enhance passenger safety.

"DGCA developed a phased implementation plan after consulting all stakeholders: Phase 1 beginning July 1, 2025, and Phase 2 from November 1, 2025. IndiGo had explicitly assured complete compliance with these regulations and confirmed its readiness for the winter schedule. Despite these assurances, preliminary observations indicate that internal rostering disruptions caused widespread cancellations and inconvenienced thousands of travelers," he elaborated.

Naidu emphasized that passenger interests remain central to all government decisions. "We intervened by capping airfares to prevent exploitation due to sudden demand increases and opportunistic pricing. IndiGo was instructed to process refunds promptly, and according to their reports, over Rs 750 crore has already been returned to affected passengers."

The government is committed to developing a robust and more competitive aviation ecosystem, Naidu stated. "Through our policies, we are encouraging new airlines to establish and operate in India, ensuring fair access to airport capacity and preventing any possibility of market duopoly controlling connectivity and pricing. More airlines translate to greater choice, affordability, and resilience for passengers."

Centre Begins Crackdown

The government has initiated disciplinary action against IndiGo for the recent airport disruptions. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has reduced IndiGo's winter schedule by 5 percent, resulting in approximately 110 fewer flights daily from their usual 2,200 domestic and international services. The government has announced that the slots freed by this reduction will be allocated to other airlines.

Earlier, Minister Naidu had warned of exemplary punitive measures against the airline. In his address to the Rajya Sabha yesterday, he attributed the cancellation of hundreds of flights to IndiGo's "internal crisis" following the implementation of new passenger safety regulations. "We prioritize the welfare of pilots, crew members, and passengers. We made our expectations clear to all airlines. IndiGo was responsible for managing their crew and roster effectively. Passengers experienced significant difficulties, and we are not taking this situation lightly. We will take stringent action and establish a precedent for every airline," he informed the House.

The new flight safety regulations focus on addressing pilot fatigue—a critical factor in aircraft accidents—by extending mandatory rest periods. Implementation of these rules requires airlines to recruit additional pilots.

IndiGo, which operates 2,200 daily flights and has historically focused on minimizing aircraft downtime, found itself with insufficient crew when the new regulations took effect. This shortage resulted in hundreds of cancellation and considerable hardship for travelers.