Airfare cap imposed; Complete all passenger refunds by 8 pm Sunday: Centre to IndiGo

New Delhi, Dec 6: The Ministry of Civil Aviation imposed airfare caps on Saturday as the IndiGo crisis sent ticket prices of other airlines skyrocketing. A similar airfare cap had been imposed by the government during the pandemic. The ministry also directed IndiGo to clear all pending flight ticket refunds by 8 pm on Sunday.

“An official directive has been issued to all airlines mandating strict adherence to the fare caps that have now been prescribed. These caps will remain in force until the situation fully stabilises. The objective of this directive is to maintain pricing discipline in the market, prevent any exploitation of passengers in distress, and ensure that citizens who urgently need to travel — including senior citizens, students, and patients — are not subjected to financial hardship during this period,” the ministry said in a a statement.

Delhi-Mumbai fares on Air India peaked at Rs 60,000 on Friday. On the Chennai-Delhi route, tickets on Air India Express touched Rs 41,000, and SpiceJet quoted as high as Rs 69,000. The ministry said it has taken serious note of concerns regarding unusually high airfares being charged by certain airlines during the ongoing disruption.

“In order to protect passengers from any form of opportunistic pricing, the Ministry has invoked its regulatory powers to ensure fair and reasonable fares across all affected routes,” the ministry added. “The ministry will continue to closely monitor fare levels through real-time data and active coordination with airlines and online travel platforms. Any deviation from the prescribed norms will attract immediate corrective action in the larger public interest.”

The other directive issued by the ministry on Saturday mandated that the refund process for all cancelled or disrupted flights must be fully completed by 8:00 pm on Sunday, December 7”. “Airlines have also been instructed not to levy any rescheduling charges for passengers whose travel plans were affected by cancellations,” it added.

The Ministry has clarified that “any delay or non-compliance in refund processing will invite immediate regulatory action”.

The government has also directed IndiGo to trace and deliver lost baggage of passengers to their residential or chosen address within the next 48 hours. “Airlines have been told to maintain clear communication with passengers regarding tracking and delivery timelines, and to provide compensation where required under existing passenger rights regulations,” the ministry said.

The aviation ministry has directed IndiGo to set up dedicated passenger support and refund facilitation cells to ensure seamless grievance redressal. These cells have been tasked to proactively contact affected passengers and ensure that refunds and alternative travel arrangements are processed without the need for multiple follow-ups. The system of automatic refunds will remain active until operations stabilise completely.