New Delhi

The Congress on Saturday criticised the Centre and Ministry of Civil Aviation over widespread IndiGo flight cancellations, accusing authorities of failing to act despite prior warning.

Congress MP Shashikant Senthil highlighted delays in enforcing the Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) regulations, first issued in early 2024, questioning the DGCA’s role in ensuring compliance. He also raised concerns over the duopolistic nature of India’s aviation sector and alleged political proximity between IndiGo promoters and the ruling party.

Former Union Minister P. Chidambaram supported the critique, noting that lack of competition in the airline industry has contributed to the current crisis.

IndiGo has cancelled hundreds of flights due to crew shortages and difficulty implementing new pilot duty-hour rules, stranding passengers nationwide.

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The Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed IndiGo to process all pending refunds by 8:00 PM on Sunday, December 7, and to waive rescheduling charges for affected passengers. The Ministry warned that any delay or non-compliance will invite immediate regulatory action.