IndiGo Flight Fiasco: What Centre says as cancellations, skyhigh rival fares irk passengers

Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said on Friday that passengers need not worry, as the central government is taking immediate and bold steps to stabilise the situation in the domestic civil aviation space, after hundreds of daily flight cancellations and the skyhigh fares of alternate flights impacted thousands of passengers. IndiGo cancelled around 500 flights on Friday itself -- including all from the national -- after failing to plan for new pilot flying time regulations. Authorities granted IndiGo -- the country's biggest airline with about 60 per cent market share -- a temporary exemption from stricter rules for pilots.

Stating that a high-level inquiry into the matter is already underway, Naidu said that the central government expects the industry to return to normalcy within the next three days.

Meanwhile, aviation regulator DGCA's Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) guidelines have been temporarily suspended to allow airlines to restore normal operations.

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This decision, said the minister, has been taken solely for passenger convenience and to ensure that air safety is not compromised in any way. Officials reiterated that with the new orders in force, flight schedules should begin to stabilise from Saturday.

The probe, he said, will determine the following:

• How the disruption occurred within IndiGo
• How to fix accountability wherever necessary to ensure appropriate and strict action
• Where the lapses took place
• Specific measures are required to avoid such incidents in the future

Airlines directed to ensure passenger convenience, providing real-time flight status updates

The government has instructed airlines to provide real-time online updates on flight status, offer automatic full refunds for cancelled flights, arrange hotel accommodation for passengers stranded for long hours, and provide lounge access and full assistance to senior citizens and persons with disabilities, in a bid to ensure passenger safety and convenience.

Air carriers have also been directed to ensure refreshments and essential services during delays.

The ministry has set up 24×7 control rooms to monitor the situation continuously and ensure quick resolution.

IndiGo Flight Fiasco | 'Don't worry, passengers,' says Centre

The government has sought to allay passenger concerns, urging pilots to cooperate during the challenging phase in the industry.