Naidu also affirmed that the government had taken steps to intervene.

IndiGo Meltdown Raises Alarms: Aviation Minister Calls for More Airlines to Protect Passengers

On December 9, 2025, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, in a statement to the Lok Sabha, said that airport operations are now “returning to normalcy” following a massive disruption in the flight network.

The minister said the disruption was caused by an “internal rostering issue” at the airline IndiGo and highlighted that irrespective of an airline's size, “no airline … can cause hardship to passengers.”

He used the crisis as an opportunity to highlight the government’s commitment towards a more competitive aviation sector. He said that more airlines should enter the Indian market, adding that “more airlines mean more choice, more affordability and more resilience for the passengers.” This would secure fair access to airport capacity and prevent any risk of a duopoly controlling connectivity and airfares.

He explained that encouraging “new airlines to start and operate” was required to ensure better connectivity and more stable airfares for travellers.

Naidu also affirmed that the government had taken steps to intervene: travellers affected by cancellations have been supported, and efforts to restore normal operations are underway.

According to the minister, reforming the structure of India’s airline industry to avoid over-reliance on a few major carriers, thereby building a more robust, resilient and passenger-friendly aviation ecosystem.

In response to the recent disruption at IndiGo, the government, through Minister Naidu, is emphasising structural reforms to open up the aviation sector to more competition. The aim is to ensure that no single airline, however dominant, can jeopardise air connectivity or passenger convenience in the future.

Source: Hindustan Times