New Delhi : In a strong message to IndiGo over the recent turmoil in its operations, Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu asserted that the revised pilot and crew rostering rules were non-negotiable as he assured strict action against India’s largest airline. IndiGo disruptions are stabilising… No airline, however large, will be permitted to cause such hardship to passengers through planning failures, non-compliance or non-adherence to statutory provisions,” he said amid sloganeering by the opposition.
Nearly 500 IndiGo flights were cancelled on Tuesday as the chaos spilt into the second week. However, the cancellations were much less than what unfolded last week. As airports witnessed chaotic scenes, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stepped in to grant IndiGo a temporary exemption from stricter night duty rules for pilots under the new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms. The aviation minister stated that refunds, baggage tracing and passenger support measures were under the supervision of the ministry, and a detailed investigation was being carried out. He updated the Parliament that the airline has already processed Rs 750 crore in refunds.
Naidu also underlined that the government was encouraging new airlines to start and operate in India after the IndiGo crisis laid bare the risks of having a duopoly-like situation. Safety in civil aviation is completely non-negotiable. The government is determined to build a robust and competitive aviation ecosystem, he further said.
Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu told the Parliament that no airline, no matter how big, would be allowed to cause trouble to passengers. “Refunds, baggage tracing and passenger support measures remain under the supervision of the ministry. Directorate General of Civil Aviation has issued show-cause notices to IndiGo’s senior leadership and commenced a detailed enforcement investigation,” Naidu said, adding that further action would be taken based on the report.
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