Govt imposes fare caps as IndiGo flight delays and cancellations trigger surge in air ticket prices

PTC Web Desk:  The Central Government on Saturday intervened firmly after receiving complaints about unusually high airfares on several routes affected by IndiGo’s ongoing operational meltdown.

In an official statement, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said it has exercised its regulatory authority to ensure that airlines do not take advantage of the crisis by inflating ticket prices.

According to the ministry, all carriers have now been directed to follow newly prescribed fare caps on impacted sectors. These limits will remain in place until operations across the aviation network return to normal.

“The directive aims to uphold transparency, prevent opportunistic pricing and protect passengers, especially senior citizens, students and those travelling for medical needs, from financial distress during this period,” the statement noted.

The ministry added that it is using real-time data and continuous coordination with airlines and online travel platforms to track airfares. Any violation of the capped fares will invite immediate corrective action in the interest of the travelling public.

India’s largest airline, IndiGo, continues to grapple with what it terms an “operational crisis,” resulting in unprecedented cancellations. On Friday alone, the carrier scrapped more than 1,000 flights, one of the worst disruptions in its history.

Although marginally better, operations remained severely affected on Saturday, with over 440 cancellations reported nationwide. Major airports in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru witnessed long queues, significant delays and frustration among passengers struggling to get accurate updates. Data from airports shows more than 440 IndiGo flights were cancelled across cities on December 6, 2025.