"No airline will be permitted to cause such hardship to passengers", warns Civil Aviation Minister Naidu

In a firm stand against IndiGo airline disruptions and the chaos which enters its eighth day, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu told Parliament today that no carrier, no matter how big, will escape accountability for causing passenger misery, as the government ramps up its probe into IndiGo's week-long cancellation crisis that stranded thousands. The chaos stemmed from new flight duty rules aimed at curbing pilot fatigue, which caught IndiGo airlines short on crew despite their promises of readiness.

Naidu assured the Lok Sabha that airports are now calm with no crowds or distress, and over Rs 750 crore in refunds have already reached affected flyers, thanks to swift ministry orders to cap fares and speed up payouts.The minister detailed the crackdown: DGCA, has slapped show-cause notices on IndiGo's top management and launched a deep enforcement probe, with tough penalties looming under aviation laws. "Safety is completely non-negotiable," Naidu stressed, explaining the phased rollout of rest rules – starting July 2025 and intensifying in November – designed with expert input to boost global safety standards.

"No airline, however large, will be permitted to cause such hardship to passengers through planning failures, non-compliance or non-adherence to statutory provisions. Safety in civil aviation is completely non-negotiable," he said, adding that India is firmly committed to the highest global standards of safety. He further assures that passengers' interests are at the centre of every decision taken by the government. "We intervened to cap fares so that no passenger would be exploited due to the sudden demand spikes and opportunistic pricing" Minister Naidu said.

He admitted IndiGo's internal scheduling mess led to the mess but praised ongoing efforts like baggage tracking and extra support desks that are easing the pain for stranded passengers.Looking ahead, Naidu outlined plans to shake up India's skies by inviting more airlines to break any monopoly, ensuring fair slot access and lower fares for everyone. In the Rajya Sabha, he had already warned of "exemplary action" to set a precedent, slashing IndiGo's winter flights by 5% – that's about 110 daily trips – and handing those slots to rivals. This episode, he said, puts passengers' needs front and center, promising a tougher, fairer aviation world where no one flies blind on safety.