The crisis began earlier this week when IndiGo cancelled an unprecedented over 1,500 flights in just four days following what the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) described as “misjudgment and a gap in planning” in complying with the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) for crew.
The rules, introduced in 2024 to address pilot fatigue, had been implemented inconsistently, resulting in crew shortages that quickly spiralled into system-wide delays. Passengers at major airports, including Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bengaluru, Nagpur, Jammu, Pune and others faced scenes of confusion, long queues and last-minute cancellations as the airline struggled to manage its schedule.
Also read | IndiGo records around 117 flight cancellations at Mumbai airport by 12 pm
IndiGo accounted for a significant share of domestic traffic, its reduced capacity triggered widespread fare spikes on routes where options suddenly became limited. Some competing airlines reportedly increased prices sharply, prompting concerns over exploitation of distressed travellers.
Taking note of the situation, MoCA announced on December 6 that it had invoked its regulatory authority to ensure “fair and reasonable fares” across all affected sectors. The Ministry stated that an official directive has been issued to airlines mandating compliance with newly prescribed fare caps, which will remain in effect until operations stabilise.
The directive, MoCA said, is intended to protect passengers, especially senior citizens, students and those travelling for medical emergencies, from “opportunistic pricing” during a period of heightened uncertainty. Officials emphasised that extraordinary disruptions must not lead to financial hardship for citizens with urgent travel needs.
Also read | IndiGo fiasco eases as flights begin recovering after days of disruption: Delhi Airport
To enforce fare controls, the Ministry has established an intensive real-time monitoring mechanism in coordination with carriers and online booking platforms. Any breach of the capped fares, it warned, will trigger “immediate corrective action in the larger public interest”.
MoCA added that the caps are a temporary stabilising measure and will be reviewed once IndiGo’s operations return to normal, which the airline has indicated may take several more days. For now, the government hopes the intervention will help restore fairness and predictability for passengers caught in the turbulence.
