The crisis began earlier this week when IndiGo cancelled an unprecedented 1,500 flights within just four days, a situation described by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) as stemming from “misjudgment and a gap in planning” regarding the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) for crew members.
The new regulations, introduced in 2024 to combat pilot fatigue, were inconsistently applied, leading to crew shortages that quickly resulted in widespread delays. Passengers at major airports such as Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Nagpur, Jammu, Pune, and others experienced confusion, long lines, and last-minute cancellations as the airline struggled to manage its schedule.
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With IndiGo commanding a substantial portion of domestic air traffic, its reduced capacity led to widespread fare increases on routes with limited alternatives. Some rival airlines reportedly raised prices sharply, raising concerns about the exploitation of distressed travellers.
In response to the situation, MoCA announced on December 6 its decision to exercise regulatory power to guarantee “fair and reasonable fares” across all affected routes. The Ministry confirmed that an official directive has been issued to airlines requiring adherence to newly established fare caps, which will remain in place until operations stabilize.
The directive, as stated by MoCA, aims to protect passengers, particularly senior citizens, students, and those travelling for medical reasons, from “opportunistic pricing” during this period of heightened uncertainty. Officials stressed that massive disruptions must not cause financial strain for citizens in urgent need of travel.
Also read | IndiGo situation improves as flights start recovering after days of chaos: Delhi Airport
To enforce these fare controls, the Ministry has implemented a robust real-time monitoring system in collaboration with airlines and online booking services. Any violations of the capped fares, it warned, will result in “immediate corrective action in the broader public interest.”
MoCA noted that these fare caps are a temporary stabilizing intervention and will be reassessed once IndiGo’s operations normalize, a process the airline has indicated could take several additional days. Currently, the government hopes this intervention will help restore fairness and predictability for passengers caught in the upheaval.
