The Ministry of Civil Aviation has exercised its regulatory authority to impose fare caps on air tickets across impacted routes following widespread flight cancellations by IndiGo, which triggered a sharp spike in domestic airfares. The directive, issued to all airlines, mandates strict compliance with the newly prescribed fare limits until operations stabilise.
According to the ministry, the decision was taken in response to unusually high ticket prices observed over the past few days, particularly on major domestic routes, after IndiGo cancelled a significant number of flights. The restrictions are aimed at ensuring fares remain fair and reasonable for passengers during the disruption.
In an official statement, the ministry said it would continue close monitoring of airfare trends using real-time data while maintaining coordination with airlines and online travel booking platforms. It warned that any violation of the prescribed norms would invite immediate corrective action in the larger public interest.
The intervention follows reports of a sudden surge in last-minute ticket prices caused by reduced seat availability across key sectors. On Friday, fares on the Delhi–Mumbai sector reportedly touched Rs 60,000 on Air India. Tickets on the Chennai–Delhi route rose to Rs 41,000 on Air India Express, while SpiceJet fares reportedly peaked at Rs 69,000.
The ministry stated that it had taken serious note of concerns regarding opportunistic pricing by certain carriers during the ongoing disruption. It reiterated that the objective of invoking regulatory powers was to maintain pricing discipline in the aviation market and prevent passengers from being financially exploited at a time of inconvenience.
The government also underlined that the fare control measures are intended to safeguard passengers who need to travel urgently, including senior citizens, students and patients, ensuring they are not exposed to undue financial hardship due to the crisis.
The situation remains strained as IndiGo cancelled more than 400 domestic flights on Saturday, marking the fifth consecutive day of disruption for the airline. The cancellations further intensified pressure on available seats across other carriers, contributing to elevated fare levels.
Amid the travel disruption, Indian Railways stepped in to provide relief by adding extra coaches to several trains to accommodate passengers who were unable to secure airline tickets. Authorities said the railways’ intervention was aimed at easing congestion and providing alternative travel options during the period of instability in the aviation sector.
The Civil Aviation Ministry said the fare caps would remain in force until normalcy is restored and flight operations across affected sectors return to stable levels.
