Country cannot depend on two big airlines, says Naidu

Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu on Thursday said the turmoil that swept through airports this month was the direct result of IndiGo’s internal failures, warning that India’s aviation network cannot remain vulnerable to the breakdown of one or two dominant carriers. He said the country needs at least five airlines of substantial scale, each with around 100 aircraft, to prevent any single operator from becoming a national choke point.

He said the chaos that stranded thousands of passengers began within IndiGo’s own systems, pointing to faulty crew rostering and wider operational flaws. He said the meltdown “came from inside the airline” and that passengers paid the price for lapses that should never have reached this scale.

Naidu, while talking to a media outlet, also made it clear that the government is far from satisfied with IndiGo’s response. Despite constant communication from the Ministry, he said several critical questions remain unanswered. He noted that the chairman’s video message on Wednesday “skipped many of the issues that were raised”, reflecting the Centre’s growing frustration with the airline’s top management.

The government is now examining every aspect of the episode, including allegations that airlines sharply increased fares when IndiGo flights were cancelled. Ticket prices on alternative routes spiked in the first 48 hours, prompting criticism over the delay in fare caps. Naidu defended the timing, saying the Ministry needed a full assessment of the disruption before intervening.

Asked whether the government has the authority to remove the CEO of a private airline, Naidu said legal and procedural limits exist but added that no option would be ruled out if significant failures are confirmed.

With the Ministry widening its scrutiny, the country’s largest airline faces an extended period of accountability, and a clear message that systemic failures will not be brushed aside.