The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has imposed temporary fare caps to curb skyrocketing ticket prices triggered by IndiGo’s ongoing operational crisis, which has caused widespread cancellations and delays across the country. The directive, issued on Saturday (December 6), invokes the ministry’s regulatory powers to ensure airlines maintain fair and reasonable pricing on affected routes until normal operations resume.
The intervention follows multiple reports of passengers being forced to pay inflated fares for alternative flights as disruptions left thousands stranded. The ministry said the fare caps are designed to protect travellers — particularly senior citizens, students, and patients — from financial strain during the turmoil. “The Ministry will closely monitor fare levels through real-time data and coordination with airlines and online travel platforms. Any deviation from prescribed norms will attract immediate corrective action in the larger public interest,” the statement added.
The regulatory move forms part of the government’s broader attempt to maintain market discipline during periods of instability in India’s aviation sector, which has faced recurring challenges due to operational lapses, staffing constraints, and sudden schedule disruptions.
Amid the crisis, political criticism has intensified. On December 5, Assam Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi accused the Centre of failing to fulfil its promise of affordable air travel. He recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier assurances that even those “who can only afford a pair of slippers” would be able to fly, contrasting them with the present reality of steep airport charges, rising airfares, and frequent flight disruptions. Gogoi noted that passengers are now confronted with “airports that charge Rs 200 for coffee, tickets that cost Rs 20,000 and flights that are either delayed or cancelled,” arguing that the government has not delivered on its commitments.
With IndiGo continuing to cancel and delay flights nationwide, the fare cap is expected to bring temporary relief to passengers while the aviation ecosystem works to stabilise operations.
