As the IndiGo operational crisis continues to disrupt air travel across India, ticket prices on other airlines have skyrocketed, leaving passengers helpless and frustrated. With fares reaching record highs on major routes, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has stepped in, imposing strict fare limits to protect passengers from exorbitant pricing during the ongoing disruption.

The sudden surge in airfares began after IndiGo cancelled a large number of flights nationwide, prompting other carriers to significantly increase their ticket prices due to rising demand. This led to widespread anger among travellers, many of whom were forced to pay unusually high fares at the last minute.

Government Cracks Down — Fare Limits Enforced

In response to public outrage and the worsening travel situation, the Civil Aviation Ministry has enforced temporary fare caps. All airlines have been instructed to follow the newly prescribed limits, which will remain in effect until operations return to normal.

The ministry has also issued stern notices to certain airlines over excessive price hikes. To ensure compliance, officials will now conduct real-time monitoring of airfares across all routes. Any violation of the new pricing rules will result in immediate action.

Meanwhile, senior IndiGo officials have been summoned to the ministry at 6 PM for a detailed review. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has also been briefed about the situation, reflecting the seriousness of the disruption.

Airfares Hit Unprecedented Levels

The flight cancellations by IndiGo triggered massive fare hikes across major routes:

• Delhi–Mumbai: Usually around ₹6,000, fares have surged to nearly ₹70,000

• Delhi–Patna: Typically ₹5,000, now priced close to ₹60,000

• Delhi–Bengaluru: Normal fare around ₹7,000, but currently over ₹1 lakh

• Delhi–Chennai: Fares have reached approximately ₹90,000

• Delhi–Kolkata: Now nearly ₹68,000

Such extreme pricing, especially during an ongoing crisis, has put significant pressure on passengers who depend on air travel for work, emergencies, or planned trips.

IndiGo Issues Statement, Promises Hassle-Free Refunds

Amid continuing cancellations, IndiGo has released an official statement assuring passengers of a full refund with no questions asked. The airline clarified that:

• All refunds for cancelled bookings will be automatically processed to the original payment method

• Passengers travelling between 5 December and 15 December 2025 can cancel or reschedule their tickets without any penalty

• The airline apologised for the inconvenience caused and promised to restore normal operations as soon as possible

Air India and Air India Express Respond to Fare Surge

Air India and Air India Express have clarified that from 4 December, they placed internal limits on economy-class fares for non-stop domestic flights to prevent unreasonable price hikes.

They also explained that certain high-priced screenshots circulating online were for one-stop or two-stop journeys, or combinations of economy, premium economy and business classes — categories where fare caps cannot be applied technically.

Both airlines are in talks with third-party booking portals to ensure fare transparency. Additionally, Air India and Air India Express are preparing to add more flight capacity soon to accommodate stranded travellers and stabilise fares.

IndiGo Crisis Enters Day 5 — Massive Cancellations Continue

The travel chaos is far from over. On Saturday, IndiGo cancelled:

• 86 flights in Delhi (37 departures and 49 arrivals)

• 109 flights in Mumbai (51 arrivals and 58 departures)

• 19 flights in Ahmedabad

• 6 flights in Thiruvananthapuram

• 94 flights (50 departures, 44 arrivals) in Chennai

Persistent disruptions have caused major inconvenience for thousands of passengers across major airports.