New Delhi, Dec 5 (NationPress) The extensive disruption caused by IndiGo’s cancellation of nearly 500 flights echoed in Parliament on Friday, with opposition members accusing the airline of “monopolistic practices” and the “government's regulatory negligence”.

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari raised the issue during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, highlighting that around 500 flights were cancelled on Wednesday and Thursday, leaving both lawmakers and everyday travelers stranded.

“This issue has emerged from the dominance of a single airline. Many members had booked flights to return home for the weekend but are now encountering challenges. I urge the minister to inform the House about the actions being taken,” Tiwari stated.

In response, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju assured that the government was aware of the situation. “Before arriving in the House, I consulted with the Civil Aviation Minister. The government is looking into the technical issues the airline is experiencing. A comprehensive response will be formulated as members have expressed their concerns,” he promised.

The cancellations persisted into Friday, with over 400 flights grounded across the nation, prompting strong political reactions. Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the government, labeling the crisis as “the cost of this government’s monopoly model”.

In a post on X, Gandhi remarked, “Once again, it’s ordinary Indians who bear the burden - facing delays, cancellations, and frustration. India deserves genuine competition in every sector, not manipulated monopolies.”

Shiv Sena(UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also submitted a notice under Rule 180 in the Rajya Sabha, deeming the situation of “urgent public importance”. She pointed out severe delays of up to seven hours and cancellations at major airports, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, citing crew shortages and operational failures.

“Thousands of passengers were stranded, normal airport operations were disrupted, and repeated large-scale interruptions underscore the necessity for immediate government intervention and accountability,” she noted.

Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu convened a high-level review meeting and expressed dissatisfaction with IndiGo’s management of the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) regulations, which the airline acknowledged had been poorly executed.

IndiGo stated on its X handle, “The last two days have seen extensive disruption across IndiGo’s network and operations. We sincerely apologize to all our customers and industry partners affected by these developments. IndiGo teams are working tirelessly, with the support of MOCA, DGCA, BCAS, AAI, and airport operators, to mitigate the cascading effects of these delays and restore normal operations. We will continue to keep our customers informed of any changes to their scheduled flights and advise them to check the latest status at https://goindigo.in/check-flight-status.html before proceeding to the airport. IndiGo deeply regrets the inconvenience caused and is focused on streamlining its operations as swiftly as possible.”

Meanwhile, passengers nationwide continue to endure chaos.