IndiGo Crisis Eases as Government Warns Airlines: “No More Passenger Hardship”

New Delhi, Dec 2025 : Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu on Tuesday assured the Lok Sabha that IndiGo’s disrupted operations are now stabilising, while all other airlines continue to function normally across the country. Issuing a strong message, he said no airline — regardless of its size — would be allowed to inconvenience passengers due to planning lapses, rule violations or failure to meet statutory obligations.

Addressing the House, Naidu said airports nationwide were reporting “normal conditions with no crowding or distress,” indicating that the worst phase of the disruptions had passed. He informed members that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had served show-cause notices to IndiGo’s senior leadership and initiated a comprehensive enforcement investigation. Action on the findings, he said, would be “strict and appropriate”.

Reiterating the government’s firm stance, the minister said, “IndiGo is being held accountable. No airline, however large, will be permitted to cause such hardship to passengers.” He also stressed that the revised pilot and crew rostering regulations were “non-negotiable” and would remain fully in force.

Naidu said the Ministry of Civil Aviation was personally monitoring refunds for cancelled flights scheduled between December 5–15, including oversight of baggage tracing and passenger support systems. As part of corrective measures, IndiGo was directed to immediately process refunds. “As informed by the airline, more than Rs 750 crore has already reached passengers,” the minister said.

IndiGo, under mounting government scrutiny, announced on Monday that it has refunded Rs 827 crore to affected passengers, with the remaining reimbursements currently being processed for cancellations up to December 15.

“Operations are stabilising quickly, safety remains the top priority, passengers’ dignity is being protected, and long-term reforms are underway to make India’s aviation sector more passenger-centric,” Naidu told Parliament.

He added that the government stepped in to cap airfares, preventing sudden price surges that could exploit stranded passengers. The minister also highlighted that IndiGo rebooked passengers at no extra cost and has assured full compliance with flight duty time norms. The airline also confirmed its readiness for the upcoming winter schedule. Naidu reiterated that safety in civil aviation remains “completely non-negotiable”.

The minister further stated that the government was focused on creating a strong, competitive aviation ecosystem and was encouraging new airlines to enter and expand operations in India.

However, dissatisfaction over the response to the disruptions led Congress and other Opposition members to stage a walkout after Naidu’s statement.

Meanwhile, the DGCA has directed IndiGo to cut its daily schedule by 5 per cent and submit a revised operational plan by 5 p.m. on December 10. In its order, the regulator noted: “IndiGo has not demonstrated the ability to operate its schedules efficiently.” It pointed out that while 64,346 flights were approved for the airline in November, it operated only 59,438 and cancelled 951 flights — a gap the government insists must not be repeated.