Aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu counters Rahul Gandhi's monopoly charge: 'Don't make it political'

IndiGo, which dominates Indian skies with over 60 percent share of air passengers, failed to implement and plan adequately for the new Flight Duty Times Limitations norms, causing massive delays and cancellations

Union civil aviation minister K Ram Mohan Naidu dismissed allegations of government promoting “monopoly model” and stifling fair competition in the country, resulting in the cancellation and delay of thousands of IndiGo flights in the past few days.

Earlier on December 5, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had said the “IndiGo fiasco” was the cost of the government’s “monopoly model”.

“Once again, it’s ordinary Indians who pay the price - in delays, cancellations and helplessness. India deserves fair competition in every sector, not match-fixing monopolies,” Gandhi had said, attaching a 2024 column he wrote against monopolies.

Delhi: On Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi's remark about a "government monopoly model" amid IndiGo’s flight cancellations, Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu says, "He should understand that this is not a political issue, but a matter concerning the public. In the… pic.twitter.com/WW6toS3s4I

— IANS (@ians_india) December 7, 2025

Responding to the remarks, the Union minister said Gandhi should not turn the flight disruptions into a political issue as it is a “matter concerning the people”. “In the aviation sector, the government has always aimed to increase competition. More competition means allowing new airlines to enter, increasing aircraft in our fleet, and reducing leasing costs. We have even passed legislation in Parliament to lower leasing costs so that more aircraft can be added..."

IndiGo targets network stability by Dec 10 as flight ops rise to 1,650, OTP hits 75%

The allegations come as IndiGo, which dominates Indian skies with more than 60 percent share of air passengers, failed to implement and plan adequately for the new Flight Duty Times Limitations (FDTL) regulations, causing massive delays and cancellations.

IndiGo fiasco is the cost of this Govt’s monopoly model. Once again, it’s ordinary Indians who pay the price - in delays, cancellations and helplessness. India deserves fair competition in every sector, not match-fixing monopolies. https://t.co/sRoigepFgv — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 5, 2025

The civil aviation watchdog sent the notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers, giving him 24 hours to respond and say why regulatory action - which can include penalties and suspension of officials - should not be taken against the airline.

900 pilots, 10 Feb deadline: DGCA night rules may force IndiGo into record hiring spree, what’s the plan?

Earlier in the day, India capped airfares, which have been driven higher by the increase in demand for flights operated by other carriers. IndiGo cancelled another 385 flights on Saturday, the fifth day of the crisis.