Tough Call by Government: IndiGo Could Face a 5% Reduction in Flights

Tough Call by Government: In a significant move following the ongoing severe disruption, the government is reportedly considering slashing IndiGo’s flight schedule by 5%, translating to approximately 110 daily Flights. According to TOI sources, this capacity may be reallocated to other airlines demonstrating the operational capability to handle the increase. The government is deeply frustrated by the massive passenger inconvenience caused by the flight cancellations. This initial 5% reduction is just the start; officials are considering another potential 5% cut in the coming days if the situation demands it, alongside exploring other punitive actions against the airline.

Day Seven Turmoil: Minister Vows Strict Action Against Rule Breakers

On Monday, which marked the seventh consecutive day of the IndiGo crisis, the issue was raised in the Rajya Sabha. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu addressed the chamber, stating clearly that strict action would be taken against the airline found to be violating the rules. He emphasized that this would serve as an Example for all air carriers. Despite the government’s tough stance, over 500 IndiGo flights remained cancelled on the seventh day. Minister Naidu asserted that the government would never compromise on the Safety of passengers, pilots, or crew members.

Internal Issues Blamed: FDTL Rules Not the Cause of Cancellation Chaos

Minister Naidu explicitly attributed the mass flight cancellations to Internal issues within the airline, stressing that IndiGo failed to manage its crew roster and resource deployment properly. He was quick to clarify that the crisis was not linked to the new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms. The Minister confirmed that accountability would be established for the extensive distress suffered by the affected Passengers. The government maintains that proper crew management was the airline’s responsibility, irrespective of the new FDTL rules.

Legal Action Looms: High Court to Hear Passenger Plea

The legal fallout from the crisis is also underway. The Delhi High Court has scheduled a hearing for December 10 for a plea seeking directions to the Central government. This petition specifically asks the government to mandate assistance and ticket Refunds for all passengers impacted by the widespread IndiGo crisis. Meanwhile, in its response to the show-cause notice issued by the DGCA, IndiGo cited “technical reasons” alongside issues related to the FDTL rules as the primary reasons for the disruption in its flight Operations.

FDTL Implementation: No Negotiation on Safety Standards

The Civil Aviation Minister firmly rejected IndiGo’s suggestion that the new FDTL rules were to blame. He clarified the timeline for the new regulations: the new FDTL rules, mandated after a High Court order in April 2025, contain 22 guidelines. Of these, 15 were implemented from July 1, 2025, and the remaining 7 from November 1, 2025. The government had engaged in multiple rounds of Consultation with IndiGo and all other stakeholders, making it unequivocally clear that all airlines must adhere to the rules without compromising safety. DGCA has been monitoring compliance since the full implementation on November 1st.

Price Monitoring: Government Has No Control Over Ticket Pricing

Following Minister Naidu’s address, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Muraleedharan Mohole informed the Rajya Sabha about the government’s role in fare monitoring. He stated that the Tariff Monitoring Unit (TMU) primarily monitors airfares on a monthly basis across 78 selected Routes using the airlines’ own websites. Crucially, the government reiterated that it does not have direct control over the pricing of air tickets, maintaining a market-driven approach while actively monitoring for sharp or unfair price fluctuations.