Government Checks Fare Hike: Caps Announced, IndiGo Ordered to Finish Refunds by Sunday
Govt Caps Arbitrary Airfares: Up to ₹7,500 for 500 km; Refunds to Be Cleared Immediately
; A nationwide aviation crisis triggered by IndiGo’s large-scale operational disruptions has led to thousands of flight cancellations and a sudden surge in airfares across multiple routes. In response, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has announced an emergency fare cap and issued strict orders to airlines to stabilize operations and protect passengers from unreasonable charges.
Government Introduces Fare Caps
In a press release issued Saturday, the ministry announced that airlines must now adhere to newly prescribed fare ceilings for all bookings, whether made directly through airline websites or through online travel agents. The new maximum fare limits are:
- Up to 500 km: ₹7,500
- 500–1000 km: ₹12,000
- 1000–1500 km: ₹15,000
- Above 1500 km: ₹18,000
According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), these caps will remain in place until fares stabilize or the government reviews the situation. The ministry emphasized that the objective is to ensure travelers—particularly students, senior citizens, and medical passengers—are not burdened by excessive airfares during the ongoing disruption.
Strict Instructions to Airlines
The ministry has directed all airlines to maintain availability of seats across all fare buckets and prevent sudden or abnormal fare increases on any route. Real-time monitoring of fares will be carried out using online platforms, and any irregularities will be addressed immediately by aviation authorities.
DGCA Relaxes Weekly Rest Restrictions
Amid IndiGo’s four-day stretch of mass cancellations, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has lifted earlier guidelines mandating weekly rest periods for pilots. Airlines may now adjust schedules using pilots’ leave days to maintain operations.
On Friday alone, over 500 flights were cancelled nationwide, with IndiGo accounting for more than 1,000 cancellations since the disruptions began. Airlines informed the DGCA that previous flight duty and rest norms were contributing to operational bottlenecks.
Government Issues Strict Orders to IndiGo
As passenger complaints surged, the Civil Aviation Ministry issued tough directives to IndiGo:
- Clear all refunds by 8 PM on Sunday
- No rebooking or change fees for affected passengers
- Set up dedicated refund and support centres
- Personally contact affected passengers
- Deliver all lost baggage within 48 hours
Additionally, the government stated that the automatic refund system will remain active until normal operations resume. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said full services are expected to be restored within three days. He also confirmed that new flight duty norms have been temporarily suspended and that a high-level investigation has been launched into the crisis.
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