Government warns of strict action against IndiGo, says new airlines welcome in India

The Centre on Monday took a firm stance in the Lok Sabha over IndiGo’s widespread flight cancellations, stating that accountability will be fixed and stringent action will be taken under the Aircraft Act. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said preliminary findings point to serious internal lapses within the airline.

According to the minister, early inquiry reports have revealed major irregularities in IndiGo’s crew rostering and duty scheduling system. The internal breakdown triggered a chain reaction across the airline’s network, which worsened due to the winter schedule, bad weather, technical glitches and heavy air traffic congestion.

The minister added that IndiGo had assured full compliance with the new duty-time rules aimed at reducing pilot fatigue, but large-scale cancellations occurred because its roster could not support the revised norms.

Naidu informed the House that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued show-cause notices to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and other senior officials. “After the investigation is completed, strict action will be taken under the Aircraft Act and relevant rules,” he said. The airline has also been directed to immediately restructure its capacity and network.

Reassuring passengers, the minister said, “There will be no compromise on safety. No airline will be allowed to behave insensitively with passengers. We are encouraging new airlines to enter India. More players mean better service.”

He also urged passengers to report any issues with IndiGo promptly to help resolve them faster. While operations are gradually stabilising, the ministry continues to monitor the situation closely.