Amidst the ongoing crisis at IndiGo airlines, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asserted that rules and laws should be enablers, not hindrances, for the public. Addressing Members of Parliament from the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Modi emphasized that regulations are meant to improve systems and not to harass citizens.

IndiGo, which controls over 60% of the domestic commercial aviation market, has been struggling with widespread flight delays and cancellations, causing major disruptions for passengers. The disruptions, which have persisted for over a week, are attributed to the airline's failure to adapt to new regulations regarding pilot and flight crew fatigue and workload management. These rules, set by the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), aim to limit on-duty hours and mandate increased rest periods between flights.

The situation has led to thousands of flight cancellations, with some estimates suggesting over 4,500 flights were grounded in a week. Passengers have taken to social media to share their experiences, including missed family emergencies and travel for critical reasons. IndiGo has offered full refunds and waived cancellation or rescheduling charges for affected customers. However, the high volume of tickets, reportedly over 950,000, has resulted in delayed or incorrect processing of refunds, further adding to customer frustration.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated that IndiGo did not raise any concerns during a meeting on December 1st, just a day before the mass cancellations began. Naidu has placed the blame on IndiGo's "internal system" and has defended the crew roster norms. The government is considering curtailing IndiGo's winter schedule, potentially reducing the daily number of flights by 100. IndiGo currently operates 2,200 flights a day during the winter schedule.

The Prime Minister's remarks underscore the government's commitment to ensuring that regulations do not cause undue hardship to the public. Kiren Rijiju, the Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister, conveyed that Modi wants to ensure laws serve the people's convenience rather than burden them. Modi has also reportedly stated that the government is preparing to take "severe steps" to prevent such disruptions in the future, regardless of whether airlines approve of the measures. He stressed that public inconvenience is unacceptable.

The Airline Pilots' Association (ALPA) India has raised safety concerns regarding a "temporary exemption" provided to IndiGo.