Civil Aviation Ministry Caps Airfares After IndiGo Disruptions Trigger Price Surge

Dec 2025 : The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Saturday said it has invoked its regulatory powers to ensure that airfares remain fair and reasonable across all affected routes following IndiGo’s continuing operational crisis, which has led to large-scale flight cancellations and unprecedented price surges on key domestic sectors.

In an official directive issued to all scheduled airlines, the Ministry has mandated strict adherence to newly prescribed fare caps. These caps will remain in force until the situation stabilises fully and normal operations resume across the aviation network.

“The Ministry will continue to closely monitor fare levels through real-time data and active coordination with airlines and online travel platforms. Any deviation from the prescribed norms will attract immediate corrective action in the larger public interest,” the Ministry said in a formal statement.

The move comes in the wake of sharp public criticism after airfares on several high-demand routes spiralled to extraordinary levels as IndiGo cancelled hundreds of flights over the past few days due to operational disruptions. The sudden reduction in seat availability across the domestic network created an immediate shortage, triggering steep last-minute price hikes.

On Friday, ticket prices on the Delhi–Mumbai route on Air India reportedly peaked at nearly Rs 60,000. Similarly, fares on the Chennai–Delhi sector on Air India Express touched Rs 41,000, while SpiceJet was seen quoting as high as Rs 69,000 on certain routes. The surge sparked widespread outrage among stranded passengers, many of whom were forced to pay exorbitant fares amid limited travel alternatives.

The Ministry said it has taken serious note of complaints regarding unusually high charges being levied by certain airlines during the ongoing disruption. “In order to protect passengers from any form of opportunistic pricing, the Ministry has invoked its regulatory powers to ensure fair and reasonable fares across all affected routes,” the statement added.

Officials said the objective of the directive is to maintain strict pricing discipline in the aviation market, prevent exploitation of passengers in distress, and ensure that citizens with urgent travel needs — including senior citizens, students, and patients — are not subjected to financial hardship during the crisis period.

On Saturday alone, IndiGo cancelled more than 400 domestic flights as the operational disruption entered its fifth consecutive day, leaving thousands of passengers stranded across major airports.

Meanwhile, Indian Railways stepped in to mitigate the impact on travellers by adding extra coaches to several long-distance trains to accommodate the sudden surge in demand. Railway authorities said additional arrangements were made on high-traffic routes to provide temporary relief to affected passengers.

The Civil Aviation Ministry reiterated that it will continue to keep a close watch on both operational stability and fare trends until complete normalcy is restored in the aviation sector.

Team Maverick.