India moved swiftly today to cap domestic airline fares, stepping in as chaos continued to unfold across major airports, with hundreds of passengers stranded due to the ongoing IndiGo crisis. For the fifth consecutive day, long queues and confusion surrounded the Bengaluru and Mumbai airports as 385 IndiGo flights were cancelled, extending what has become the largest operational breakdown in the airline’s 20–year history.
This week has brought unprecedented disruption to India’s aviation sector. IndiGo’s cancellation of thousands of flights triggered a ripple effect nationwide, forcing the government to roll out special relief measures, authorize additional train services, and implement temporary pricing intervention to stabilize the market.
With demand suddenly surging toward other carriers, airfare prices skyrocketed across popular routes. The government, responding to mounting pressure, announced its decision to cap fares to stabilize pricing and prevent exploitation—though specific fare details have not yet been revealed.
According to an official statement, “The Ministry will continue to closely monitor fare levels through real-time data and active coordination with airlines.” India last imposed fare caps during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
The Unraveling Behind IndiGo’s Biggest Crisis
IndiGo acknowledged earlier that it failed to adequately prepare for the November 1 implementation of tighter rules governing night flying and mandatory weekly rest periods for pilots. The miscalculation caused significant scheduling bottlenecks that spiraled into mass cancellations.
On Friday alone, more than 1,000 IndiGo flights were abruptly scrapped. Following emergency government intervention and exemptions, IndiGo announced it expects to restore full operations between December 10–15.
While the Delhi airport reported gradual stabilization in flight operations, disruptions remain widespread. According to airport insiders, IndiGo cancelled:
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124 flights in Bengaluru
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109 in Mumbai
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86 in New Delhi
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66 in Hyderabad
Human Stories Amid the Travel Chaos
At the heart of the crisis are the passengers—stranded, confused, and exhausted. Many arrived at airports unaware of the cancellations, left scrambling for answers or alternative travel options.
Satish Konde, who had checked in for his connecting flight from Mumbai to Nagpur, only discovered his flight was cancelled after waiting at the gate.
“I am waiting for my luggage to be returned,” he said, reflecting the shared frustration of thousands.
Other airlines, including Air India and Akasa, have not been forced into mass cancellations despite the new regulatory requirements.
