IndiGo’s Turbulence: Monopoly, Mismanagement, and Mass Stranding

Updated: December 05, 2025 22:20

Image Source: Business Standard

IndiGo’s recent flight cancellations, driven by crew shortages and new regulatory norms, have caused widespread passenger distress and fare hikes. Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla has blamed the government for enabling a monopoly, highlighting the urgent need for better accountability and long-term solutions in India’s aviation sector.

India’s aviation sector faced a severe disruption this week as IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, cancelled hundreds of flights, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at major airports. The chaos stems from a mix of new crew rostering rules, technical glitches, and alleged mismanagement, sparking criticism from Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla, who accused the government of allowing a monopoly to operate without accountability, resulting in widespread public inconvenience and soaring fares.

Key Highlights

Massive Flight Cancellations: IndiGo cancelled over 1,200 flights in the past week alone, with disruptions peaking from December 2 to 4. Major airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad saw significant delays and cancellations, with some passengers waiting up to 14 hours for updates or alternate flights.
Root Cause: Crew Shortage and New Rules: The airline’s operations were severely impacted by new government-imposed Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), which reduced pilot and crew working hours and increased rest requirements. IndiGo was aware of these changes but failed to prepare adequately, leading to a critical shortage of staff.
Passenger Distress and Fare Surge: Thousands of passengers missed connections, holidays, and important events. With IndiGo’s network dominating domestic routes, other airlines absorbed some demand but at much higher fares, which spiked by 20–30 per cent. Social media overflowed with complaints about poor communication and unresponsive customer service.
Government Response and Regulatory Relaxations: The Central Government and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) responded by temporarily suspending the FDTL rules to stabilize operations and ease passenger hardships. However, critics argue that this is a short-term fix and that both regulators and the airline must provide long-term solutions.
Political Backlash: Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla sharply criticized the government, stating that Rahul Gandhi had repeatedly warned about such crises, yet the concerns were ignored. He emphasized that the situation has become serious, with the monopoly’s unchecked power hurting public interests and pushing up ticket prices.

Sources: ANI, News Web India 123, India Today, The Financial Express, Reuters, NDTV, National Herald, WION

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