What is the story about?
The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Saturday (December 6) took serious note of unusually high airfares being charged by some airlines amid widespread disruptions
in flight operations across the country. In response, the Ministry has invoked its regulatory powers to impose temporary fare caps and instructed airlines to strictly follow the prescribed limits until operations return to normal. Officials said the move aims to protect stranded passengers from opportunistic pricing, ensure fair fares across affected routes, and prevent financial distress for senior citizens, students, medical travellers, and other vulnerable groups.
Govt imposes fare caps across routes
According to the aviation ministry, an official directive has been issued to all carriers mandating strict compliance with capped fares. These caps will remain enforced until the aviation sector stabilises.
The directive comes at a time when passengers nationwide have reported steep spikes in ticket prices following large-scale cancellations, particularly by IndiGo.
To maintain transparency, the Ministry said it will track airfare levels using real-time data and coordinate with airlines and online travel platforms.
“Any violation will attract immediate corrective action in the public interest,” the ministry said.
IndiGo ordered to clear all refunds by December 7
The Ministry has issued a strong directive to IndiGo, instructing the airline to complete all pending passenger refunds by 8 pm on Sunday, December 7. This includes refunds for every cancelled or disrupted flight over the past several days.
Airlines have also been told not to levy rescheduling charges for passengers who were forced to modify travel plans due to cancellations.
The Ministry warned that any delay or non-compliance in processing refunds would lead to regulatory action.
Special passenger support & refund cells activated
To further streamline grievance redressal, IndiGo has been directed to set up dedicated passenger support and refund facilitation cells.
These cells will:
- Proactively contact all affected passengers
- Process refunds and issue alternate travel options
- Prevent passengers from having to make repeated follow-ups
- Keep the automatic-refund system active until full operational stability is restored
- Baggage Delivery Within 48 Hours
The Ministry has also addressed concerns related to baggage mismanagement during mass cancellations.
IndiGo has been instructed to:
- Trace and deliver all separated baggage to passengers' addresses within 48 hours
- Offer transparent updates on baggage tracking
- Provide compensation as per existing passenger rights rules
Govt asserts zero-inconvenience policy
The Ministry said it is coordinating continuously with airlines, airports, security agencies, and other stakeholders to ensure a zero-inconvenience policy for travellers throughout the disruption.
Special oversight has been activated for:
- Senior citizens
- Differently-abled passengers
- Students and patients
- Travellers requiring urgent movement
The government said that the recovery process is being monitored closely and the government remains committed to restoring complete operational normalcy at the earliest.
Flight disruptions continue across major airports
Even as Delhi Airport reported gradual normalisation on Saturday, IndiGo’s network continues to face significant strain.
This follows more than 1,000 cancellations on Friday, prompting IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers to issue a public apology and assure fewer disruptions on Saturday.
