‘No Airline, Regardless Of Its Size, Can Mistreat Passengers’: Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu Tells Lok Sabha

Speaking during the Winter Session, the minister said that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has already issued notices to IndiGo’s senior leadership and launched a detailed enforcement investigation. “No airline, regardless of its size, will be allowed to mistreat passengers or violate statutory norms,” Naidu told the House.

Government Promises Accountability

Naidu stated that flight operations, which were severely disrupted due to IndiGo’s internal rostering failures, are now “rapidly stabilising.” Once the DGCA’s investigation is complete, he said, appropriate and firm action will follow under the Aircraft Act and relevant aviation regulations.

The minister added that more than ₹750 crore in refunds have already been processed for affected passengers, with rebookings completed at no extra cost. According to Naidu, the refund process is now in its final stages.

Opposition MPs staged a brief walkout after the minister’s statement.

DGCA Orders 5% Reduction in IndiGo’s Winter Schedule

With over 4,500 flight cancellations since December 2, the DGCA has directed IndiGo to trim its Winter Schedule 2025 operations by 5 percent, citing the airline’s inability to operate its approved capacity. The regulator noted a significant gap between IndiGo’s sanctioned schedule and the flights it could reliably operate amid crew shortages.

IndiGo has been instructed to submit a revised schedule by 5 pm on December 10.
Under the current winter schedule, the airline had approvals for over 15,000 weekly departures, totalling 64,346 flights in November 2025. The scaled-down operations aim to restore stability and reduce further passenger inconvenience.

Major Airports Worst Affected

Bengaluru has reported the heaviest disruptions, followed by Hyderabad and Chennai. The cancellations have been linked to IndiGo’s challenges in implementing the second phase of revised Flight Duty Time Limitations, introduced to reduce pilot fatigue. While the DGCA temporarily relaxed some roster rules to ease pressure, pilot unions have raised safety concerns.

Senior officials from the Civil Aviation Ministry have been deployed at key airports for on-ground inspections as the government monitors the situation closely.

Aviation Safety Remains Top Priority

Reiterating the government’s commitment to passenger protection, Naidu said, “The government is determined to build a robust airline ecosystem. We will remain fully vigilant until normal operations are restored.”