Priyanka Chaturvedi Brings Matter to Rajya Sabha
On Friday, December 5, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi submitted a notice under Rule 180 in the Rajya Sabha, urging Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu to address the ongoing disruptions by IndiGo, according to ANI.
In her notice, she indicated that the situation was of “urgent public importance,” as thousands of travelers had faced extensive delays and flight cancellations. She pointed out that on Wednesday alone, IndiGo dealt with severe delays of up to seven hours, cancelling over 70 flights at major airports including Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. Key international routes, such as the Mumbai–Maldives service, were also disrupted during peak hours.
Chaturvedi emphasized that normal operations at airports had been severely affected, leaving many passengers stranded. She called on the government to take immediate action and implement measures to prevent such widespread disruptions in the future.
#WATCH | Delhi | On IndiGo experiencing nationwide flight delays and cancellations, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi stated, “I have submitted a calling attention. I was expecting the civil aviation minister would provide information in Parliament yesterday, but… pic.twitter.com/UkLx3U3Jef
— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2025
Causes of the Disruptions
IndiGo has cancelled hundreds of flights this week due to a shortage of crew members. The situation has continued to deteriorate, with 550 flights cancelled on Thursday alone. Early-morning flights, including those from Delhi to Pune, were also cancelled as the issue entered its fourth day.
The airline informed India’s aviation regulator that it anticipates a return to normal operations by February 10.
Following a thorough review conducted by the DGCA, IndiGo sought temporary operational modifications or exemptions from specific Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) regulations for its A320 fleet, valid until February 10, 2026, to reduce further inconvenience to passengers while ensuring safety.
Also Read: IndiGo shares may face pressure amid flight chaos; analysts caution about near-term strain
Opposition Intensifies Criticism
The opposition has strongly condemned the government in light of the crisis.
Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi criticized the government, attributing the crisis to the Centre’s “monopoly model.”
In a post on X, he remarked that ordinary passengers are suffering due to delays, cancellations, and ongoing uncertainty. He advocated for fair competition in the aviation sector and cautioned against “match-fixing monopolies.”
The IndiGo debacle is the price of this Government’s monopoly model.
Once again, it’s ordinary Indians who bear the brunt – facing delays, cancellations, and helplessness.
India deserves fair competition in every field, not match-fixing monopolies. https://t.co/sRoigepFgv
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 5, 2025
IndiGo’s cancellations have surged to approximately 170–200 flights per day, raising alarm over both passenger safety and convenience.
Looking Ahead
Now that the issue has been formally addressed in Parliament, a response from the Civil Aviation Ministry is anticipated. The DGCA is already assessing IndiGo’s operational hurdles, and the airline claims it is taking steps to stabilize its scheduling.
For now, passengers are advised to check for updated flight information, as disruptions may persist until the airline fully resumes its operations.
Also Read: IndiGo’s crisis rooted in management failures, not in new DGCA regulations, say aviation experts
