IndiGo Chaos: Minister Vows Accountability

The Union Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu, has assured that accountability will be established for the ongoing disruptions caused by IndiGo's implementation of Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms. He stated that the government has intervened to protect passengers, refuting any impression that IndiGo influenced the policy changes. Investigations will determine culpability, leading to fines or other regulatory actions.

The ministry has taken a multi-pronged approach, including securing extra capacity from other airlines and imposing fare caps to mitigate the crisis. All domestic airlines are now directed to operate within controlled fare bands, with maximum limits set for various route distances. IndiGo anticipates operations stabilizing by mid-December, though improvements are expected sooner.

To prevent future occurrences, the minister stressed the need for India's aviation ecosystem to grow, advocating for at least five major airlines. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has granted IndiGo a temporary exemption from FDTL norms to manage rostering issues. A show cause notice has also been issued to IndiGo's CEO.