Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu has sent shockwaves through the industry by stating that the ongoing IndiGo crisis makes this the “best time to start an airline” in India. Addressing Parliament amid outrage over the cancellation of more than 2,000 flights and thousands of stranded passengers, Naidu asserted that the country’s aviation infrastructure and soaring demand can comfortably accommodate at least five additional carriers, effectively calling for an end to the long-standing duopoly that has left the sector vulnerable to single-point failures.

The IndiGo breakdown was triggered by severe mismanagement of crew rostering, despite explicit regulatory guidance. Naidu disclosed that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation had held a detailed meeting with IndiGo executives on December 1 to clarify revised Flight Duty Time Limitations, during which the airline voiced no concerns. The subsequent chaos, therefore, stemmed entirely from internal lapses rather than any ambiguity in rules, prompting the minister to emphasise that accountability will be strictly enforced.

While promising tough penalties for future violations, Naidu framed the crisis as a turning point for structural reform. He argued that spreading operational load across more players would reduce systemic risk, enhance competition, drive down fares, and improve service reliability. With passenger numbers projected to cross 300 million annually within the decade, the minister presented the current turmoil as a clear market signal for investors and entrepreneurs to enter the space.

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Industry observers have welcomed the minister’s vision of a more diversified aviation ecosystem, viewing it as a long-overdue push to dismantle concentrated market power. At the same time, opposition members questioned whether encouraging new airlines addresses immediate passenger grievances stemming from the IndiGo fiasco, including delayed refunds and inadequate assistance.

As investigations proceed and compensation protocols are strengthened, Naidu’s bold declaration has reframed a major operational failure into a policy opportunity. The message from the ministry is unequivocal: the IndiGo meltdown is not merely a setback but a catalyst to fundamentally transform India’s aviation landscape into a more resilient and competitive sector.

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