IndiGo crisis | Civil Aviation Ministry introduces airfare cap amid surging ticket prices

The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Saturday, December 6, informed that it has taken 'serious note' of the concerns regarding unusually high airfares amid the ongoing IndiGo flight disruptions and said that it has " invoked its regulatory powers to ensure fair and reasonable fares across all affected routes".

For five days in a row, IndiGo, the country's largest airline, has cancelled hundreds of flights, primarily due to crew woes.

"An official directive has been issued to all airlines mandating strict adherence to the fare caps that have now been prescribed. These caps will remain in force until the situation fully stabilises. The objective of this directive is to maintain pricing discipline in the market, prevent any exploitation of passengers in distress, and ensure that citizens who urgently need to travel — including senior citizens, students, and patients — are not subjected to financial hardship during this period," the Ministry noted.

The Ministry has also informed that it 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," they added.