'No airline...will be permitted to cause such hardship': Aviation Minister
What's the story
The Winter Session saw the Union Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu address the Lok Sabha on Tuesday over the IndiGo crisis, which has resulted in hundreds of flights being canceled for eight straight days. "No airline, however large, will be permitted to cause such hardship to passengers through planning failures, non-compliance, or non-adherence to statutory provisions," Naidu said.
Stabilizing operations
'IndiGo is being held accountable'
Naidu assured the House, "Operations are stabilizing fast, safety remains fully in force, IndiGo is being held accountable, passengers' convenience and dignity are being protected, and long-term measures are underway to take India's aviation sector more passenger-centric." He added that all other airlines continue to operate smoothly across the country. Airports across the country are reporting normal conditions, with no crowding or distress.
Compliance
Show-cause notices issued to senior leadership
The Civil Aviation Minister announced, "The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued show-cause notices to IndiGo's senior leadership and commenced a detailed enforcement investigation. Based on the report, strict and appropriate action will be taken." He added that the airline was ordered to issue refunds promptly, with more than ₹750 crore already reaching passengers.
Strong message
Revised pilot and crew rostering rules non-negotiable
As the chaos caused by the mass cancellation of flights spilt into the second week, the DGCA intervened to grant IndiGo a temporary exemption from stricter night duty rules for pilots under the new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms. Amid sloganeering by the opposition, the Union Minister asserted that the government was determined to build a robust and competitive aviation ecosystem.