Priyanka Chaturvedi Addresses Rajya Sabha
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Friday, 5 December, submitted a notice under Rule 180 in the Rajya Sabha, requesting Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu to comment on the current IndiGo disruptions, according to ANI.
In her notice, she articulated that the matter was of “urgent public importance” given that thousands of passengers had endured extensive delays and flight cancellations. She pointed out that on Wednesday alone, IndiGo faced severe delays of up to seven hours, resulting in over 70 flights being cancelled at major airports, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. Key international routes, such as the Mumbai–Maldives service, were also impacted during peak travel times.
Chaturvedi emphasized that standard airport operations had been disrupted, leaving numerous passengers stranded. She urged the government to take immediate action and implement measures to prevent such widespread interruptions in the future.
#WATCH | Delhi | Regarding IndiGo’s nationwide flight delays and cancellations, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi stated, “I have submitted a calling attention. I expected the civil aviation minister to provide information in Parliament yesterday, but… pic.twitter.com/UkLx3U3Jef
— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2025
Causes of the Disruption
IndiGo has halted hundreds of flights this week due to a shortage of crew members. This issue further deteriorated, resulting in 550 flight cancellations on Thursday. Early-morning services, including Delhi–Pune flights on Friday, were also cancelled as the matter progressed into its fourth day.
The airline informed India’s aviation regulator that it anticipates normal operations to resume by February 10.
Following a thorough assessment led by the DGCA, IndiGo has sought temporary operational variations or exemptions from specific Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) regulations for its A320 fleet, effective until February 10, 2026, to minimize additional passenger inconvenience while ensuring safety.
Also Read: IndiGo shares may face pressure amidst flight turmoil; analysts warn of near-term strain
Opposition Intensifies Criticism
The opposition has launched strong criticisms against the government over the crisis.
Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi also critiqued the government, labeling the crisis as a consequence of the Centre’s “monopoly model.”
In a post on X, he stated that ordinary passengers were suffering from delays, cancellations, and ongoing uncertainty. He called for fair competition within the aviation sector and warned against “match-fixing monopolies.”
IndiGo’s fiasco stems from this government’s monopoly model.
Once again, it’s ordinary Indians who bear the burden – in delays, cancellations, and helplessness.
India deserves fair competition in every sector, not match-fixing monopolies. https://t.co/sRoigepFgv
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 5, 2025
IndiGo’s cancellations have surged to about 170–200 flights daily, raising concerns regarding both passenger safety and convenience.
Future Developments
With the issue officially raised in Parliament, the Civil Aviation Ministry is expected to provide a response. The DGCA is currently evaluating IndiGo’s operational difficulties, and the airline claims it is working to stabilize its schedule.
In the meantime, passengers have been advised to verify updated flight information, as disruptions may persist until the airline fully reinstates its operations.
Also Read: IndiGo’s crisis rooted in management failure, not new DGCA rules, say aviation veterans
