Expressing displeasure on the manner in which IndiGo airlines handled the new crew rostering norms, leading to widespread cancellations and chaos at the airports, civil aviation minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu today told the airline to urgently normalize operations and warned against predatory pricing.

In a high level meeting with IndiGo’s senior management in presence of civil aviation secretary and Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the minister took a serious note of operational disruptions and cancellations of flights across IndiGo’s network, according to the ministry.

“Naidu expressed clear displeasure regarding the manner in which the situation has been handled by the airline, and stressed that ample preparatory time had been available to ensure a seamless transition to the new regulatory requirements. The minister further directed IndiGo to urgently normalize operations and to ensure that there is no increase in airfares due to the current situation,” a release from the civil aviation ministry said.

The minister instructed the airline to proactively inform passengers of any likely cancellations well in advance and to ensure that all necessary facilities, including hotel accommodation where required, is provided promptly to minimize inconvenience, the release added.

“During the meeting, IndiGo presented data on cancellations and attributed the disruption to challenges in crew planning and implementation of the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms, along with seasonal weather-related constraints. It was noted that the revised FDTL regulations were implemented in phases as per Hon’ble Court directions to ensure improved fatigue management and enhanced flight safety,” the release said.

The high-level review meeting with IndiGo’s senior management was attended by the civil aviation secretary, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and senior officials of the ministry, and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

Earlier, Naidu also held a meeting with senior officers of AAI and directed that all airport directors must continuously monitor the situation on the ground and extend full support to all stranded passengers. “He has instructed officials of the ministry to communicate the need for proper coordination among all stakeholders — including airports, ATC, and other airlines — to restore normalcy at the earliest,” the release said.

It may be noted that the DGCA has been directed to conduct strict real-time monitoring of IndiGo’s operations, including field inspections at major airports, with special emphasis on passenger-handling arrangements and timely communication during delays and cancellations, the government said. “Officers have been deployed to IndiGo’s operational control centers for continuous oversight,” the release said.

“The ministry remains fully committed to ensuring smooth air travel and to safeguarding passenger rights and safety. All aspects of IndiGo’s operational recovery and passenger support measures will continue to be closely monitored until full stability is achieved,” it added.