New Delhi, 6 December (H.S.): Congress MP from Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvallur constituency, K. Selvaraj Senthil, on Saturday lashed out at the central government for what he called its “complacent inaction” amid the massive flight disruption crisis faced by IndiGo, India’s largest airline.

Addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi, Senthil accused the government of remaining a “mute spectator” while thousands of passengers continue to struggle at airports with their luggage and disrupted schedules.

“People are stranded for hours without food or water. The elderly and children have been left with no special arrangements. Many missed exams, critical events, and family emergencies. The past four to five days have been the worst in Indian aviation history,” he said.

The MP questioned how IndiGo managed to capture a dominant 60–65% share of the Indian aviation market, asserting that such dominance has led to a virtual monopoly. “Why is the government allowing one private airline to control such a large portion of the market? This crisis is a direct result of that monopolistic structure,” he remarked.

Senthil also criticized the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for allegedly failing to act promptly on new flight-duty time-limit regulations that were revised between January and March 2024. He alleged that the government’s inaction indirectly encouraged monopolistic practices within the aviation sector.

Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu defended the government’s stance, stating that the new flight-duty regulations took effect on November 1 and that no other airline had encountered similar issues. “This clearly shows the problem lies within IndiGo’s operations. The airline’s lapses are under investigation, and appropriate action will be taken,” Naidu said.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar