New Delhi, December 11, 2025 – In a dramatic turn for India's often polarized media landscape, the mass cancellations of IndiGo flights have prompted mainstream TV news channels to unleash unprecedented criticism against the Narendra Modi-led government, questioning regulatory lapses and accusing authorities of favoring the dominant airline at the expense of passengers.
The crisis, which began on December 2, has seen IndiGo – India's largest carrier with over 65% market share – cancel more than 2,000 flights in the first week alone, stranding tens of thousands of travelers during the peak winter season. Airports from Delhi and Mumbai to Bengaluru and Chennai have descended into chaos, with visuals of passengers sleeping on floors, endless queues, lost luggage, and tearful families missing weddings and holidays dominating prime-time screens. The disruptions stem from acute pilot shortages exacerbated by the airline's failure to fully comply with new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules implemented on November 1, despite prior court directives and internal warnings.
What has stunned observers is the ferocity of the TV backlash, particularly from channels long perceived as sympathetic to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Republic TV, helmed by the vocally pro-government anchor Arnab Goswami, led the charge on December 4 with a blistering debate titled "Debate With Arnab," where Goswami declared, "The central government has completely let down all those flying on planes across the country because our domestic aviation sector is a frightful mess." He went further, slamming Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu: "The (civil aviation) minister has done a bad job," and insisting, "The government must take some responsibility." A fellow Republic anchor echoed this, stating, "The government cannot wash its hands of IndiGo’s mess."
This marked a rare "homecoming" for Goswami, who has spent over a decade targeting opposition figures while largely shielding the BJP from scrutiny, leading social media to buzz with memes and commentary on the anchor "tasting the fragrance of Vishwaguru first hand." The episode drew swift retaliation from BJP allies, including TDP leaders, whom Goswami then accused of "pressure tactics," demanding accountability on the IndiGo crisis.
Times Now joined the fray with headlines like "Govt works for IndiGo or for India?" Anchor Navika Kumar grilled the minister live: "Not one head has rolled, no action has been taken," and "Was the minister and the regulator sleeping on the wheel?" She dismissed assurances on passenger safety, saying, "If you give me an assurance that you are worried about the safety (of passengers), nobody will believe you." CNN-News18 piled on, questioning, "Why was leeway given to IndiGo?" amid revelations that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had granted the airline a controversial one-time exemption from FDTL norms, ignoring an August Parliamentary Standing Committee warning.
Opposition voices amplified the TV outrage. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi blamed the "Modi government’s monopoly model" for the fiasco, while West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called it "a disaster." Aviation experts on air accused IndiGo of "conspiracies" and "systemic incompetence," with former DGCA official Captain G.S. Randhawa hinting, "much more to it than meets the eye."
In response, the government has swung into action. The DGCA issued show-cause notices to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and Chief Operating Officer Isidro Proqueras, summoned executives for briefings, and ordered inspections at 11 airports. The Civil Aviation Ministry capped fares, mandated a 10% cut in IndiGo's domestic schedule (up from 5% earlier), and directed competitors like SpiceJet and Air India to add 160-170 daily flights to ease the strain. IndiGo Chairman Vikram Singh Mehta dismissed allegations of an "engineered crisis" or influencing rules, apologizing in a video and promising external audits. CEO Elbers attributed the surge to a necessary "reboot" of systems.
Yet, as cancellations continued – with 220 flights axed on Wednesday alone, including 60 from Bengaluru and 36 from Chennai – the government's interventions have been labeled reactive. Analysts warn that IndiGo's dominance, coupled with high taxes and fuel costs under the Modi regime's UDAN scheme, has stifled competition, making the sector vulnerable to such breakdowns. Prime Minister Modi broke his silence on Day 8, urging airlines to "improve, not harass," but the damage to public trust – and the media's narrative shield – may linger.
Passenger voices underscore the human cost. A tearful traveler at Mumbai airport lamented, "There was no cancellation in advance, I have a boarding pass and now I am told it is cancelled. What shall we do?" As India eyes aviation growth, this episode has exposed cracks in a duopoly-driven sky, forcing even TV's staunchest allies to demand reform.
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