The action will set an example for the entire aviation sector…Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said while adopting a tough stance on Indigo Airlines

New Delhi : The country’s largest airline Indigo is going through its biggest operational crisis these days. The massive cancellation of flights for four consecutive days has left thousands of passengers in trouble. Meanwhile, the Central Government is now taking this development very seriously. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has clearly said that this is not just a matter of technical flaws but of fixing responsibility and the upcoming action will set an example for the entire aviation industry.

Tampering with facilities will not be tolerated
In an exclusive conversation with the media, Minister Naidu said in clear words that the huge trouble that Indigo’s negligence has put the passengers in, cannot be ignored. He said that the government is going to take such a tough decision, after which no aviation operator will dare to take the ministry lightly. According to Naidu, this is a warning not just to IndiGo but to the entire sector that any kind of playing with the rules and passenger facilities will not be tolerated.

High level committee is investigating all the reasons
The minister said that a high-level committee is investigating the entire matter and as soon as the report comes out, both financial and punitive action will be taken. He also raised the question that if FDTL (Flight Duty and Rest Time) rules were already in place then why did the problem suddenly start from December 3? What he said clearly indicated that the airline had made a mistake in preparation. Naidu said that IndiGo has been known for the best on-time performance in the country for the last 20 years, in such a situation the OTP falling below two digits shows that there is something seriously wrong inside.

The number of canceled flights decreased from 1,000 to 850…
Indigo said it canceled about 850 flights on Saturday, which is less than more than 1,000 flights on Friday, but the impact on passengers was widespread. The airline claims that it is processing all refunds on priority and is trying to get its operations back on track after the temporary relaxation in FDTL rules granted by DGCA. The company said that in the next few days, flights will be stabilized, delays will be reduced and passengers will be provided all possible assistance.

Refunds must be completed by 8pm Sunday
The Civil Aviation Ministry warned the airlines that refunds for all canceled or disrupted flights should be completed by 8 pm on Sunday night. Besides, it will be mandatory to find and return the separated luggage of passengers within 48 hours. If there is delay at any level, the ministry will immediately take strict action. The ministry also made it clear that no re-scheduling fee will be charged from passengers and the process of automatic refund will continue until IndiGo’s operations become completely normal.