'Not could be...will be': Aviation minister about penalties on IndiGo
What's the story
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has said that IndiGo's operational issues are "on the verge of getting resolved." He added that action against the airline is a matter of when, not if. Speaking to NDTV, Naidu noted that all other airlines have functioned smoothly under the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms introduced in November. This indicates that the "fault" lies with IndiGo, he said.
Operational update
IndiGo's operational issues nearing resolution
Naidu assured that major congestion at metro airports, such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai, has been cleared. He said IndiGo would resume operations with limited capacity from Saturday and full capacity would likely be restored in a few days. The minister emphasized that the ministry and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have been closely monitoring the situation and continuously engaging with airlines.
Monitoring efforts
DGCA's proactive monitoring and IndiGo's operational issues
Naidu stressed that the DGCA had been proactive in monitoring the situation. He pointed out that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) mandated updates for Airbus A320s last week, which were completed without disruptions. The minister also said a committee has been formed to investigate the IndiGo disruptions and identify those responsible.
Passenger focus
Minister Naidu emphasizes responsibility to ensure passenger comfort
Naidu reiterated that the fault lies with IndiGo, not the ministry or DGCA. He said if there were issues with FDTL guidelines, all airlines would have faced problems. On whether IndiGo will face penalties, he said that "it's not could be, it will be." He stressed that ensuring passenger comfort is their responsibility, and action will follow the inquiry into these disruptions.