Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu has issued a stern directive to IndiGo, the country's largest carrier, demanding immediate action to stabilise its operations and prevent any surge in airfares. This comes after a day of massive disruptions that saw the airline cancel more than 550 flights on Thursday alone.
High-Level Meeting Addresses Operational Crisis
On Thursday, Minister Naidu convened a high-level review meeting to address the ongoing crisis of flight cancellations plaguing IndiGo. The minister expressed clear dissatisfaction with how the airline has managed the situation. He emphasised that the carrier had sufficient preparatory time to ensure a smooth transition to new regulatory requirements, yet failed to do so effectively.
During the meeting, IndiGo presented data attributing the widespread cancellations to a combination of factors. These included challenges in crew planning, difficulties in implementing the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms, and constraints caused by seasonal weather patterns.
Minister's Directives: Normalise Ops, Cap Fares, Assist Passengers
The minister laid out specific and urgent instructions for the airline. His primary command was for IndiGo to normalise its operations at the earliest. Crucially, he mandated that the current operational issues must not lead to an increase in airfares, protecting passengers from financial exploitation during the crisis.
Furthermore, IndiGo has been ordered to significantly improve its passenger communication and support. The airline must proactively inform travellers of any likely cancellations well in advance. It is also responsible for ensuring all necessary facilities, including hotel accommodation where required, are provided promptly to minimise passenger inconvenience.
DGCA Deploys Officers for Real-Time Oversight
To ensure compliance, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been tasked with strict, real-time monitoring of IndiGo's operations. This includes conducting field inspections at major airports across the country. The watchdog will place special emphasis on passenger-handling arrangements and the timeliness of communication during delays and cancellations.
In an unprecedented move, DGCA officers have been deployed to IndiGo's operational control centres for continuous, on-ground oversight. This step underscores the seriousness with which the government views the disruption caused by the airline, which typically operates around 2,300 flights daily.
In a separate meeting, Minister Naidu also directed senior officers of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to ensure all airport directors continuously monitor the ground situation and maintain proper coordination to manage the fallout from the cancellations.
