Aviation Minister Rebuts 'Monopoly' Claim, Cites Push for Competition During IndiGo Disruptions

Overview

• Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu rejected Rahul Gandhi's allegation of a government‑enabled monopoly and said the issue should not be politicised.
• Naidu said the government has sought more competition in aviation and cited legislation aimed at lowering aircraft leasing costs to help carriers expand fleets.
• IndiGo's failure to realign crew rosters with newly phased DGCA safety norms led to a severe pilot shortage and hundreds of daily cancellations across major airports.
• The DGCA temporarily paused the new norms to stabilise operations, and officials said flights are being restored with services now limping back to normal.
• The ministry ordered refunds to be processed by 8 p.m. Sunday, set a 48‑hour window for baggage claims, imposed a nationwide cap on domestic fares, and warned of strict action after an investigation.