Rahul Gandhi Criticizes Government Over IndiGo Flight Disruptions
Rahul Gandhi's Critique of IndiGo's Operational Issues
Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi has directed criticism at the central government regarding operational disruptions at IndiGo, the country's largest airline. He claims that the recent failures of IndiGo are a direct result of the government's 'monopoly model'.
Over 550 domestic and international flights operated by IndiGo have been canceled, causing significant inconvenience for thousands of passengers due to delays in several flights.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi stated, 'The failure of IndiGo is a consequence of this government's monopoly model. Once again, ordinary Indians are paying the price through delays, cancellations, and helplessness.' He emphasized that India deserves fair competition across all sectors, rather than monopolistic practices that resemble match-fixing.
Recently, IndiGo has been grappling with a severe shortage of crew members. This issue has arisen following the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) regulations, which have increased the required rest periods for pilots and limited the number of night landings to enhance flight safety.
On Friday, IndiGo canceled over 400 flights, with numerous delays reported at various airports. Sources indicated that the prolonged delays have caused significant difficulties for hundreds of passengers at airports. More than 220 flights were canceled at Delhi Airport, while over 100 flights were affected at Bengaluru Airport. Additionally, more than 90 flights were canceled at Hyderabad Airport, with disruptions also reported at other airports due to crew issues and other operational challenges. The Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have been closely monitoring the situation regarding IndiGo's flight disruptions. IndiGo informed the aviation regulator on Thursday that it expects flight operations to stabilize completely by February 10, 2026.
IndiGo fiasco is the cost of this Govt’s monopoly model.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 5, 2025
Once again, it’s ordinary Indians who pay the price - in delays, cancellations and helplessness.
India deserves fair competition in every sector, not match-fixing monopolies. https://t.co/sRoigepFgv