Indigo airlines crisis: Centre puts FDTL orders on hold, says complete restoration of services in 3 days

Hyderabad: The Ministry of Civil Aviation has announced a series of urgent steps to address the widespread flight disruptions affecting IndiGo Airlines.

In an official statement released on Friday, Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu said the government is taking ‘urgent and proactive measures’ to restore normalcy in airline operations.

FDTL orders put on hold

To ease operational pressures on airlines, the Ministry has placed the DGCA’s Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) orders in abeyance.

The Minister said the decision was taken ‘without compromising on air safety’ and ‘solely in the interest of passengers, especially senior citizens, students, patients and others who rely on timely air travel for essential needs.’

Services expected to stabilise soon

According to the Ministry, several operational directives have been issued to fast-track normalisation.

The Minister stated, “We expect that flight schedules will begin to stabilise and return to normal by tomorrow. We anticipate that complete restoration of services will be achieved within the next three days.”

Airlines have been instructed to improve information flow and ensure travellers receive real-time updates.

Passenger support measures

The Ministry has laid out a set of passenger-centric directives for all airlines during this disruption.

1. Refunds and accommodation

• Airlines must issue full refunds automatically in case of cancellations, eliminating the need for passengers to file claims.

• Stranded passengers facing extended delays will receive hotel accommodation arranged directly by airlines.

2. Special assistance for priority groups

The Minister said special attention is being given to vulnerable groups: “Special priority is being accorded to senior citizens and differently abled. They will be provided lounge access and every possible assistance to ensure that their travel experience remains comfortable.”

Refreshments and essential services must be provided to all passengers waiting due to delays.

3. 24×7 control room activated

To closely track developments, the Ministry has set up a round-the-clock control room.

The helpline numbers shared by the Minister are: 011-24610843, 011-24693963, 096503-91859.

The control room is ‘monitoring the situation on a real-time basis to ensure swift corrective action, effective coordination, and immediate resolution of issues as they arise.’

4. High-level inquiry launched

The government has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the disruption.

“The inquiry will examine what went wrong at Indigo, determine accountability wherever required for appropriate actions, and recommend measures to prevent similar disruptions in the future,” the Minister said.

The objective is to ensure that ‘passengers do not face such hardships again.’

Government’s assurance

The Minister reiterated the Centre’s ongoing engagement with airlines and regulators.

“The Central Government is fully alert to the difficulties being faced by air passengers and remains in continuous consultation with airlines and all relevant stakeholders. Every necessary measure, including regulatory relaxations as permitted by DGCA, is being taken to stabilise airline operations and alleviate public inconvenience at the earliest possible time.”

He concluded that ‘passenger care, safety, and convenience continue to remain the highest priority of the Government of India.’