On Saturday, India implemented a cap on airline fares after IndiGo’s cancellation of hundreds of flights over five days caused a sharp rise in fares on other airlines for popular routes. Passengers urgently seeking alternative flights reported paying exorbitant prices to reach their destinations without further delays.
The Indian government announced fare caps to maintain market pricing discipline but did not disclose specific cap details.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation stated, “To shield passengers from opportunistic pricing, the Ministry has exercised its regulatory authority to ensure fair and reasonable fares on all affected routes. An official directive has been issued to all airlines, mandating strict adherence to the newly set fare caps. These caps will remain effective until the situation stabilizes fully.”
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The Ministry added, “We will continue to monitor fare levels closely through real-time data and active coordination with airlines.”
Current Airline Charges
On Saturday morning, the travel booking platform MakeMyTrip showed significant airfare increases for trips between major Indian cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru.
SpiceJet economy class flights from New Delhi to Bengaluru ranged from Rs63,000 (Dh2,572) to Rs84,000 (Dh3,429), while Air India flights (with one stop) from New Delhi to Hyderabad were about Rs62,000 (Dh2,531), nearly 10 times the regular weekday fares.
Screengrab from MakeMyTrip app
Flights from Mumbai to Delhi cost around Rs25,000 (Dh1,020) to Rs40,000 (Dh1,633). Typically, the lowest fares from Mumbai to Delhi are about Rs6,000 (Dh245) to Rs8,000 (Dh326).
Last-minute Delhi–Chennai tickets are priced between Rs62,000-Rs82,000, and a Delhi–Guwahati flight ranges from Rs23,998 to Rs35,015, according to ANI.
Public Outcry Over Fare Surge
The fare surge exacerbated the frustration of passengers already affected by IndiGo’s cancellations. Some Indian celebrities voiced their experiences on social media.
Singer Rahul Vaidya paid Rs420,000 (Dh17,148) for last-minute Air India tickets for himself and his companions from Goa to Mumbai on Thursday. Actress Nia Sharma shared on Instagram that she spent Rs54,000 (Dh2,204) for her domestic Air India flight.
Others expressed outrage, criticizing airlines for exploiting passenger distress and calling for fare caps. Actor Sonu Sood commented, “In crises, selling essentials at inflated prices is exploitation. Similarly, airlines hiking fares 5-10x during disruptions is profiteering. We need strict fare caps — no more than 1.5-2x — to protect travelers.”
Former cricketer Harbhajan Singh posted on X, “It’s concerning to see IndiGo’s continued flight disruptions inconveniencing passengers. Rising fares on Air India worsen the situation, leaving travelers with costly options. Immediate action is needed to ensure reliable service and fair pricing.”
Air India and Air India Express responded to the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s fare caps, stating that since December 4, economy class fares on non-stop domestic flights were “proactively capped” to prevent revenue management systems from applying usual demand-supply mechanisms.
“We are aware of screenshots of last-minute itineraries with multiple stops or mixed cabin classes from third-party platforms. It’s technically challenging to cap all such variations, but we are working with these platforms to exercise oversight. Air India and Air India Express are adding capacity to help passengers and their baggage reach their destinations promptly,” a spokesperson said.
Ongoing IndiGo Crisis
India’s air travel has experienced turmoil due to IndiGo’s cancellation of thousands of flights, prompting government relief measures and additional trains to clear backlogs.
This marks IndiGo’s most significant crisis in its 20-year history, known for punctuality and low fares.
On Friday, over 1,000 IndiGo flights were canceled. Following government exemptions, IndiGo announced a return to normal operations between December 10-15.
Delhi airport reported on X that flight operations are resuming steadily, though some IndiGo flights remain affected.
According to airport sources, IndiGo canceled 124 flights in Bengaluru, 109 in Mumbai, 86 in New Delhi, and 66 in Hyderabad on Saturday.
Other major airlines, like Air India and Akasa, have not canceled flights due to the new rules.
[With inputs from Reuters]
