New Delhi: The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Saturday announced strict maximum fare ceilings for all domestic economy-class flights, a move prompted by days of mass cancellations and severe capacity shortages triggered by IndiGo’s ongoing operational crisis. The new fare limits, effective immediately, aim to shield passengers from sudden fare spikes across major routes.

Government imposes distance-based fare caps

Officials stated that the temporary fare caps are essential to prevent airlines from levying exorbitant charges as demand outweighs capacity. The limits apply only to economy-class tickets on domestic routes and exclude statutory charges such as the User Development Fee (UDF), Passenger Service Fee (PSF) and applicable taxes.

Revised maximum fare ceilings:

  • Up to 500 km: ₹7,500
  • 500–1000 km: ₹12,000
  • 1000–1500 km: ₹15,000
  • Beyond 1500 km: ₹18,000

Business-class fares and flights operating under the UDAN regional connectivity scheme remain exempt from the new restrictions.

A senior official said the caps were finalised after consultations with airlines, airport operators and regulatory bodies, adding that the limits may be reviewed once normal operations resume.

IndiGo waives cancellation and rescheduling fees

As disruptions grew nationwide, IndiGo announced a complete waiver on cancellation and rescheduling charges for travel between 5 and 15 December 2025. The airline said refunds will be automatically processed to passengers’ original payment modes, offering much-needed flexibility to those affected.

The waiver has been welcomed by travellers, many of whom have faced repeated delays and sudden flight cancellations over the last four days.

Over 1,000 flights grounded as disruptions continue

India’s largest airline continued to face operational paralysis, grounding more than 1,000 flights on Friday, following over 550 cancellations the previous day. The crisis has been attributed to severe crew shortages resulting from rostering misalignments, which snowballed into a nationwide aviation meltdown.

While Delhi airport reported gradual improvement, cancellations persisted across major cities.

  • Thiruvananthapuram: 6 cancellations
  • Ahmedabad: 19 cancellations between midnight and 6 am on December 6

Passengers reported long queues, missed connections and difficulty securing alternate flights during peak travel hours.

Government expects normalcy soon

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said the situation is “significantly improving”, adding that airport congestion is expected to ease by Sunday.

He confirmed the formation of a high-level committee to investigate systemic lapses leading to the disruptions, with specific focus on:

  • Flight duty time limitations (FDTL) compliance
  • Crew scheduling patterns
  • Airline-level contingency planning
  • Operational oversight

“The backlogs of the last two days have been cleared. From tomorrow, we expect normal operations without congestion or long waits,” the minister said. He added that the government is closely monitoring airline preparedness to ensure a similar crisis does not recur.

Conclusion

With fare caps now in effect and corrective measures underway, the government is attempting to stabilise air travel as the IndiGo crisis enters its fourth day. While improvements are visible, full normalcy will depend on sustained operational recovery and adherence to regulatory guidelines across the aviation sector.