Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol on Sunday said that passengers have endured mental harassment and distress due to IndiGo's ongoing operational crisis and assured that steps are being taken to ensure accountability is fixed, reported news agency PTI. IndiGo has cancelled more than 2,000 flights and delayed others, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at several airports around the country since Tuesday. The aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has constituted a four-member inquiry panel to determine reasons for the current situation and recommend mitigation measures, and has issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers. Talking to reporters, Mohol said, "All passengers have suffered mental distress and have had to face many difficulties. They had to endure mental harassment because of IndiGo," reported PTI. Action will be taken after the four-member committee submits its report, he said, adding that accountability will be fixed, and nobody will be spared. "Certain responsibilities that IndiGo was expected to carry out were not fulfilled, and this is what led to the present situation. The DGCA has formed an inquiry committee and set up a control room. It has also issued a notice to IndiGo. Limits on ticket sales have been imposed on all airline companies," he said, reported PTI. Mohol said that instructions have been given to ensure all passengers whose flights were cancelled are refunded. IndiGo cancels over 220 flights at Mumbai, Delhi airports Meanwhile, IndiGo cancelled more than 220 flights at Delhi and Mumbai airports on Sunday, as the disruptions entered the sixth day while efforts are on to normalise operations. The disruptions have resulted in hundreds of flight cancellations and delays in the last few days, causing hardships to thousands of passengers. Sources said at least 112 flights were cancelled at the Mumbai airport and 109 flights at Delhi airport. After cancelling approximately 1,600 of its 2,300 daily flights on Friday, the airline saw a reduction in disruptions on Saturday, with cancellations falling to around 800, sources told PTI. IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and COO and Accountable Manager Porqueras on Saturday received DGCA notices, seeking explanations within 24 hours on the massive flight disruptions. "The main objective (of operating just 700 flights on Friday) was to reboot the network, systems, and rosters so that we could start afresh today (Saturday) with higher number of flights, improved stability, and there are some early signs of improvement," IndiGo had said in a statement. The airline said it operated 1,500 flights on Saturday. In the notices sent to Elbers and Porqueras, the regulator said the large-scale operational failures indicate significant lapses in planning, oversight and resource management. The notices mentioned that the primary cause of the flight disruptions is non-provisioning of adequate arrangements to cater to the revised requirements for smooth implementation of the approved FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limitations) scheme for the airline. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked Elbers and Porqueras to reply within 24 hours. (With inputs from PTI)
07 December,2025 01:59 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentAmid the ongoing power tussle in Karnataka, the Congress' top brass on Saturday deliberated over the leadership issue there, but the meeting was inconclusive and another round will be held soon. Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi is learnt to have participated in the discussions at her 10, Janpath residence as the party seeks to lower the tension between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi and AICC general secretary in-charge organisation K C Venugopal also joined the deliberations at 10, Janpath. Speaking with reporters after the meeting, Venugopal said, "We had a general discussion about the current political situation. We also discussed Karnataka, but there will be another discussion about Karnataka." "We discussed Karnataka today, but nothing came out of that. We will discuss it again... Congress is united. Karnataka Congress, also, there is unity," he said. Venugopal said the preparations for the December 14 rally against "vote chori" and the general political situation was also discussed. Earlier in the day in Bengaluru, Shivakumar accompanied AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge to airport from the Vidhana Soudha, after paying tributes to B R Ambedkar on his 69th death anniversary, which had led to some speculation about a possible discussion between the two on the leadership issue. The power tussle within the ruling party had intensified amid speculations about a change in chief minister in the state, after the Congress government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20. However, both the CM and the Deputy CM had recently held breakfast meetings at each other's residences on the instructions of the high command, which is seen as a move to pause the leadership tussle between the two and to signal Siddaramaiah's continuation as the CM for the time being, especially ahead of the Belagavi legislature session.
07 December,2025 11:23 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIIf the Congress declares Navjot Singh Sidhu as the party's chief ministerial face, he will return to active politics, indicated his wife and Congress leader Navjot Kaur Sidhu on Saturday. She, however, also pointed towards "infighting" within the Punjab Congress unit, claiming that already there are five leaders aspiring for the chief minister's position, and they won't let Sidhu come forward. Navjot Kaur Sidhu further said they do not have any money to give to any party but can transform Punjab into a "golden state". She was speaking to reporters after meeting Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on issues including alleged "deteriorating" law and order in the state. Replying to a question, she said her husband is "strongly attached" with the Congress and the party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. "But with so much infighting, I do not feel that they will let Navjot Sidhu be promoted as there are already five CMs faces and they are hell bent on defeating the Congress. If they (high command) understand this then it is a different matter," she said. Asked if the BJP gives him this responsibility then whether Sidhu will rejoin the BJP, she said, "I cannot comment on his behalf." Asked whether Sidhu will return to active politics if the Congress announces him as chief ministerial face, she said he will return. "But otherwise, he is earning good money and he is happy," she added. We always speak for Punjab but we do not have Rs 500 crore to secure the chief ministerial chair, she said. When asked if anybody demanded money from them, she said that nobody demanded from them but the "one who gives a suitcase of Rs 500 crore, he becomes the CM". This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
07 December,2025 11:21 AM IST | Chandigarh | PTIAt least 23 persons were killed in a blaze at a nightclub in North Goa following a cylinder blast late Saturday night, police said. Most of the dead were the club's kitchen workers, and included three women, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said. There were 'three to four tourists' among those killed, he added. Sawant, who rushed to the spot, told reporters that of the 23, three succumbed to burn injuries and the others died due to suffocation. As per initial information, the nightclub had not abided by the fire safety norms, the chief minister said. The fire broke out at Birch by Romeo Lane after midnight. The popular party venue at Arpora village, around 25 km from the state capital Panaji, opened last year, 'We will take action against the club management and also against the officials who allowed it to operate despite flouting safety norms,' Sawant said. 'This is an unfortunate incident during the peak tourist season in the coastal state,' Sawant said. 'We will conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident and stringent action will be taken against the guilty,' the chief minister added. Goa police chief Alok Kumar told PTI that the fire occurred due to a cylinder blast. "All the 23 bodies have been recovered from the premises and sent to the government medical college at Bambolim,' local BJP MLA Michael Lobo said. Firefighters and police teams rushed to the spot immediately and were engaged in rescue efforts through the night, Lobo told reporters. Lobo said officials will conduct the fire safety audit of all the clubs to ensure that such incidents do not recur. The Calangute panchayat will be issuing notices to all the nightclubs on Monday asking them to provide fire safety permissions, the MLA said. The licenses of clubs not having necessary permissions will be cancelled, he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
07 December,2025 11:10 AM IST | Panaji | PTIDuring a visit to Delhi, British star Hugh Grant on Saturday said his father was born in an obscure northern town in the Indian subcontinent, which may now be in Pakistan, and joked that this makes him “half Indian”. The British star, known for romance classics such as “Four Weddings and a Funeral”, “Notting Hill” and “Love Actually”. “My father was a soldier. In fact, he was born in India. I had to find his birth certificate, and it was really tough. It was some obscure town in the north of India. It may well be Pakistan now,” Grant, 65, said. “He was born in either India or Pakistan. I guess that makes me half Indian, really,” he added. Hugh Grant. Pic/X@hughgrantupdate Grant also recalled his first visit to India in 1988 when he came to shoot for “La Nuit Bengali” (The Bengali Night) in Kolkata, then Calcutta. “I shot a very arty film in 1988 in Kolkata and it never really had much of a release... but I thoroughly enjoyed being in Kolkata, although people said, ‘Hugh, it is going to be a cultural shock for you.’ and it was but I ended up loving it,” he said. “I for some reason got swept up into Kolkata high society, went to cocktail parties and polo. I didn’t know that life still existed anywhere. But it existed then in Kolkata. The Tollygunge Club and I went there to parties and people like Moon Moon Sen, I had a lovely time there.” Adapted from the semi-autobiographical novel by Mircea Eliade, “La Nuit Bengali” was set in 1930s Calcutta. Starring Grant and Supriya Pathak in the lead roles, the film follows a young European engineer who becomes entangled in a forbidden romance with the daughter of the traditional Bengali family hosting him. The movie also starred cinema icons Shabana Azmi and the late Soumitra Chatterjee in pivotal roles. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
07 December,2025 07:58 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesAfter days of disruptions, IndiGo on Saturday reported a major recovery in its network, an official statement said. The airline said that it was on its way to operate 1,500 flights by the end of the day, restoring connectivity to 95 per cent of its destinations. An airline spokesperson said that the efforts were ongoing to fully stabilise operations and thanked passengers, staff, and government agencies for their support and patience. The statement said that on Friday, the airline operated just over 700 flights connecting 113 destinations as it rebooted its network, systems, and rosters. "Addressing the recent disruptions in our network, we had cancelled a significant number of flights and operated little above 700 flights yesterday connecting 113 destinations. The main objective was to reboot the network, systems, and rosters so that we could start afresh today with higher number of flights, improved stability, and there are some early signs of improvement. Today, we are on our way to operate over 1500 flights by end of day. With regards to destinations, over 95 per cent of network connectivity has already been re-established as we are able to operate to 135 out of the existing 138 destinations in operations. While we understand that we have a long way to go, we are committed to build back the trust of our customers. We would like to thank all our partners and government agencies for their constant support and guidance. Most of all we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our customers and staff for their patience and cooperation through these tough times. We apologise once again," an IndiGo Spokesperson said. Status of IndiGo operations at Mumbai airport on December 6, 2025 (from 0000 hrs to 2000 hrs.) Arrivals at Mumbai airport on Saturday: 70 flights Departures: 76 flights Total cancellations: 146 flights
06 December,2025 11:12 PM IST | Mumbai | Madhulika Ram KavatturAir India and Air India Express have clarified that they have capped economy class fares on all non-stop domestic flights since December 4, 2025. The move was taken to prevent fare hikes that usually occur through revenue management systems when demand increases suddenly, an official statement said. The airlines said they were aware of screenshots circulating online that showed very high last-minute fares for journeys involving one-stop or two-stop routes, or combinations of economy, premium economy and business class. They explained that it is not technically possible to cap every such route or mixed-class itinerary, especially those displayed on third-party booking platforms. However, the airlines confirmed they are engaging with these platforms to ensure better monitoring and oversight. A spokesperson said that both Air India and Air India Express are working to add more capacity so that the travellers and their baggage can reach their destinations as quickly as possible. "Air India & Air India Express clarify that, since 4 December, economy class airfares on non-stop domestic flights have been proactively capped to prevent the usual demand-and-supply mechanism being applied by revenue management systems. We are aware of screenshots of last-minute itineraries with one-stop or two-stop flights or a combination of economy and premium economy or business cabins taken from third party platforms. It is not technically possible to cap all such permutations, but we are engaging such platforms to exercise oversight. Air India and Air India Express are seeking to add capacity to help travellers and their baggage reach their destinations as quickly as possible," an Air India spokesperson said. The airlines also announced a series of measures to support passengers affected by the widespread travel disruptions across the country. The airlines said the steps are aimed at helping stranded travellers reach their destinations as smoothly as possible. To offer passengers more flexibility, the airlines have introduced a one-time waiver of change or cancellation fees. This applies to customers who booked their domestic Air India or Air India Express tickets on or before December 4 for travel until December 15, 2025. They may reschedule their travel without paying rescheduling fees (fare difference may apply), or cancel their tickets and receive a full refund with no cancellation charges, it said. The waiver is valid for changes or cancellations made until 8 December 2025. Passengers may contact the 24x7 call centres or their travel agents. Air India Express customers can also use its chatbot Tia via WhatsApp, the website, mobile app, and Facebook Messenger. "Both airlines have deployed more staff to manage high call volumes and reduce waiting times. Air India: +91 11 6932 9333 and Air India Express: +91 124 443 5600 / +91 124 693 5600," an official statement said. The airlines also said they are using every available seat to help stranded travellers. Where possible, eligible Economy passengers may be upgraded at no extra cost. Additional flights are also being operated on key routes to clear backlogs and ensure passengers—and their baggage—reach their destinations quickly. It said that Air India and Air India Express confirmed that students, senior citizens, armed forces personnel and their dependents will continue to receive special discounted fares. These concessions may allow eligible passengers to book fares even lower than the capped economy rates.
06 December,2025 10:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party NCP (SP) leader and Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule has introduced a private member’s Right to Disconnect Bill aimed at protecting employees from excessive digital work pressure and ensuring a healthier work–life balance, reported the ANI. Titled “The Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025,” the proposal gives employees the legal right to stop responding to work-related emails, calls or messages outside office hours. It also allows penalties of 1 per cent of the total employee remuneration for companies that fail to comply, according to the ANI. In a post on X, Sule said the Bill seeks to “reduce burnout caused by today’s digital culture” and improve overall quality of life. The Bill argues that while modern communication technology offers flexibility, it has also blurred the boundaries between personal and professional life. It cites research showing that employees expected to be available round the clock often suffer from sleep deprivation, stress, emotional exhaustion and “telepressure” — the compulsion to check messages constantly, even on weekends and holidays. It also refers to “info-obesity”, a condition linked to overloading the brain with continuous digital communication, as per the ANI. To restore balance, the Bill says employees must have the right to protect their personal time and decline work communications after hours. At the same time, it allows companies flexibility to negotiate terms suited to their work culture. It also proposes overtime pay at the normal wage rate if employees choose to work outside regular hours, the news agency reported. The Bill further recommends counselling services to promote healthier digital habits and even suggests the creation of “digital detox centres” to help employees disconnect meaningfully. Supriya Sule said the Bill aims to protect employees’ rights while recognising employers’ operational needs, creating more respectful and sustainable work environments. Alongside this, she introduced two more private member’s Bill, the Paternity and Paternal Benefits Bill, 2025, which proposes paid paternal leave to allow fathers to play an active role in early childcare, support new mothers and encourage flexible parenting. The Code on Social Security (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to classify platform-based gig workers as a separate category entitled to minimum wages, regulated working hours, social security, fair contracts and safer working conditions. Many other Lok Sabha members also introduced their private member’s Bills during the session. (with ANI inputs)
06 December,2025 10:21 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Ministry of Civil Aviation on Saturday imposed a country-wide cap on domestic airfares in order to contain the sharp and sudden surge in ticket prices following massive disruptions at IndiGo, which led to widespread cancellations and reduced capacity across several routes. As per the ministry's order, airlines have been prohibited from charging above the newly fixed maximum limits, which have been introduced in public interest, until flight operations return to normal. The cap ranges from Rs 7,500 to Rs 18,000 depending on the length of the route. For flights of up to 500 km, the maximum permissible fare is Rs 7,500. The cap for sectors between 500 and 1,000 km is Rs 12,000. Routes between 1,000 and 1,500 km have a ceiling of Rs 15,000, while fares on flights covering over 1,500 km cannot exceed Rs 18,000. These limits exclude applicable charges and do not apply to business class or UDAN flights. The ministry, however, has not so far clarified whether premium economy fares come under the cap, though the limits are confirmed to apply to economy class. The move comes against the backdrop of unprecedented spikes in airfare since December 4, with several online travel platforms reflecting inflated last-minute prices due to the sudden mismatch between demand and available capacity. The government said it will closely track fare levels in real time and coordinate with airlines and booking platforms to ensure strict compliance. Anything contrary to the prescribed caps will attract immediate corrective action. Alongside this fare regulation, the ministry has instructed IndiGo to process all pending passenger refunds without delay and complete the refund cycle for cancelled or disrupted flights by 8 PM on Sunday, December 7. It has also instructed the airline to trace and deliver all misplaced baggage to passengers' homes or chosen addresses within 48 hours. The measures are expected to stabilise domestic air travel costs and ease the burden on passengers until the current operational disruptions subside. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
06 December,2025 08:51 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSLaunching a sharp attack on the Centre over the air travel crisis, the opposition on Saturday alleged that the ongoing disruption in IndiGo services is not accidental but the outcome of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government’s sustained attempt to create a duopoly in the aviation sector. As reported by news agency IANS, Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil, while pointing to the nationwide travel crisis over the past couple of days, said that “IndiGo's cancellation of more than 1,000 flights on December 5, 2025, followed by hundreds more on December 6, has brought India’s air travel system to an unprecedented collapse.” The Congress MP also emphasised that the disruptions have exposed weaknesses long ignored by the Centre. He also added that the consequences of this policy were now unfolding in full public view. Congress MP while slamming the BJP and the ongoing aviation crisis asserted that, “This crisis is not a natural breakdown; it is the predictable fallout of the BJP government that has been hell-bent on crushing competition, rewarding favourites, and reshaping an entire national industry to suit a tiny circle of corporate allies,” as cited by news agency IANS. MP Sasikanth Senthil further argued that aviation, which depends on tight safety rules and consistent oversight, has been forced into instability due to a policy framework that weakens regulatory checks while strengthening the grip of a handful of private players. Senthil said the government’s handling of aviation safety has revealed the scale of its neglect. Highlighting that the government released the Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules on January 8, 2024, and partially implemented them on July 1, 2025. He criticised the decision to suspend these safety rules in the middle of a sector-wide breakdown. MP Sasikanth Senthil from the Tiruvallur Lok Sabha constituency also added that, “This is not just irresponsible; it is outrageous. By scrapping rules specifically designed to prevent pilot fatigue, the BJP government has allegedly jeopardised passenger safety and thrown the well-being of cockpit crew into uncertainty.” He added, “Instead of stabilising the situation, they have deepened it, proving once again that safety and accountability mean nothing to this administration when weighed against the convenience of their preferred corporations,” as cited by news agency IANS. Sasikanth Senthil added that the government’s inclination towards building monopolies has become visible across major infrastructure sectors. He said that the trend shows how policy, regulation, and public assets are being used to strengthen a select conglomerate in aviation, telecom, ports, and other fields. The Thiruvallur MP linked the IndiGo crisis to the controversial electoral bonds, which the Supreme Court has struck down as unconstitutional and illegal, saying the disclosures further darken the picture. He alleged that the data shows InterGlobe group entities purchased around Rs 36 crore in electoral bonds, and its promoter, Rahul Bhatia, purchased about Rs 20 crore, most of which went to the BJP. Senthil added that, “It raises legitimate questions about how a sector once filled with healthy competition has been reduced to a fragile duopoly, and whether financial proximity to the BJP has played any role in shaping this distorted landscape. These concerns cannot be brushed aside; they strike at the heart of public trust and democratic integrity,” as per IANS. He further argued that the present chaos is the result of a system built on crony capitalism. “Aviation is the latest casualty. Telecommunications, infrastructure, cement, ports – the pattern repeats everywhere. The government’s actions suggest a dangerous commitment to empowering a select set of corporations while suffocating every other player, ultimately leaving India hostage to a handful of private giants.” Calling the situation a government-made disaster, Senthil said that this crisis has damaged the aviation sector, endangered passengers, destabilised markets, and shown the government’s disregard for transparency and competition. (With inputs from IANS)
06 December,2025 06:11 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentIn the wake of recent disruptions, IndiGo on Saturday announced that it will offer automatic refunds for all cancelled bookings and a complete waiver on cancellation or rescheduling charges for travel between December 5 and 15. This comes after the Ministry of Civil Aviation during the early hours of Saturday issued a statement to the aviation company to ensure that every passenger gets the refund of their ticket amount by Sunday. The Ministry of Civil Aviation said, “Mandated that the refund process for all cancelled or disrupted flights must be fully completed by 8:00 PM on Sunday, December 7,” as cited by news agency ANI. Following which, in a post shared on social media platform X, IndiGo said that it would issue automatic refunds and full waivers to passengers, with no questions asked. The post by Indigo on social media platform X stated, "No questions asked. In response to recent events, all refunds for your cancellations will be processed automatically to your original mode of payment." pic.twitter.com/hbw70EsPZz — IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) December 6, 2025 The airline further wrote that, "We will offer a full waiver on all cancellations/reschedule requests of your bookings for travel between 5 December 2025 and 15 December 2025." While the statement from Indigo did conclude with an apology, adding that, "We are deeply sorry for the hardships caused." The outrage inside the flyers is still on the higher side, seeking other alternatives for their travel plans. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has also instructed airlines not to levy any rescheduling charges for passengers whose travel plans were impacted by cancellations. It emphasised that any delay or non-compliance in processing refunds will invite immediate regulatory action under the Ministry's powers, reported ANI. To ensure seamless grievance redressal, IndiGo has been instructed to set up dedicated passenger support and refund facilitation cells. These cells have been tasked with proactively contacting affected passengers and ensuring that refunds and alternative travel arrangements are processed without the need for multiple follow-ups. The automatic refund system will remain active until operations stabilise completely. Furthermore, as per the release, the Ministry has directed IndiGo to ensure that all baggage separated from passengers due to cancellations or delays is traced and delivered to the passenger's residential or chosen address within the next 48 hours. Airlines have been told to maintain clear communication with passengers regarding tracking and delivery timelines and to provide compensation where required under existing passenger rights regulations. (With inputs from ANI)
06 December,2025 05:42 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
