Government Steps In Amid IndiGo Crisis; Airfare Caps Imposed to Protect Passengers
New Delhi: The Ministry of Civil Aviation has taken serious note of concerns that some airlines have been charging unusually high fares during the ongoing disruption in flight operations. To protect passengers from any form of opportunistic pricing, the ministry has invoked its regulatory powers and issued an official directive mandating all airlines to strictly adhere to predetermined fare caps on affected routes. These caps will remain in force until the situation fully stabilizes.
The directive aims to maintain pricing discipline in the market, prevent exploitation of distressed passengers, and ensure that citizens who need to travel urgently—especially senior citizens, students, and medical patients—do not face undue financial burden. The ministry will continue intensive monitoring of fare levels through real-time data tracking and close coordination with airlines and online travel platforms. Any deviation from the prescribed norms will attract immediate corrective action in the larger public interest.
The move comes in the wake of widespread IndiGo flight cancellations across India, which have resulted in a steep surge in airfares on several major domestic routes. Prices have skyrocketed to unprecedented levels as passengers scramble for limited alternatives.
According to booking data from popular travel portal MakeMyTrip (MMT), last-minute fares on routes connecting Delhi to major metropolitan cities and state capitals have doubled compared to rates available for nearby travel dates.
MMT data shows that the lowest fare for a Delhi–Bengaluru flight on December 6 exceeds ₹40,000, with some options priced above ₹80,000. For those wishing to travel from Delhi to Mumbai on the same day, fares range from a minimum of ₹36,107 to more than ₹56,000. For the return journey to the national capital, passengers are paying between ₹23,000 and ₹37,000.
On the Delhi–Chennai sector, last-minute fares have soared to between ₹62,000 and ₹82,000.
Travelers heading from Delhi to Guwahati are seeing minimum fares around ₹23,998, while the highest fares have reached ₹35,015. In comparison, an international flight from Delhi to Dubai on December 6 is priced at just around ₹25,855—making overseas travel cheaper than flying between two Indian cities. Similarly, a Bengaluru–Dubai ticket is available for roughly ₹15,000.
A Delhi–Bangkok flight costs approximately ₹18,747—once again highlighting how international routes, in the current scenario, are significantly cheaper than domestic travel.