&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "‘Exploitation of passengers in distress’: Govt takes action against ‘unusually high airfares’ amid IndiGo crisis")
The Indian government on Saturday (Dec 6) announced taking action against “opportunistic pricing” by airlines amid widespread cancellations of IndiGo flights across the country. In a statement, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said that it has invoked “regulatory powers” amid the crisis to ensure that passengers are not exploited and that reasonable fares are charged across the affected routes. This comes as airfares surged significantly, with the Delhi to Bengaluru flight fare touching 1 lakh.
In a statement, the ministry said, “The Ministry of Civil Aviation 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.”
It further added that it has enforced fare caps to prevent “exploitation of passengers in distress” and citizens who need to travel urgently are not subjected to financial hardships during the situation.
“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 statement read.
It further 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.”
Trending Stories
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
‘Italy will not...’: Meloni threatens Spain’s Schengen access after thousands enter Ceuta from Morocco
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Delhi Consumer Court fines Indian Railways Rs 25,000 for making RAC passengers share one blanket
)
Lift accident? Maintenance, builders & makers are ALL liable now, rules Supreme Court: 3 major regulations | WION Decodes
)
60,000 migrants from Morocco flood Spain's Ceuta, EU calls influx unacceptable, Trump warns US
)
Spider-Man producer Amy Pascal reveals why she warned Tom Holland and Zendaya against dating
)
Russia-Ukraine War: Zelensky fears 500,000 new Russian troops
)
'I was almost trafficked in Paris,' says Australian woman, shares terrifying ordeal - 'I am on the black market'
)
Trump to charge foreign students $100,000 for a shot at a US job? Here's why Indian students should be worried
)
More than 100 Israeli soldiers walk out of base, chant slogans in an 'act of rebellion' | Watch
)
Monsoon set to strengthen in August as India's rainfall deficit narrows to 14%: IMD
)
India avoids higher US tariff, secures lower 10% rate. Here's how
)
Russia-Ukraine war: Putin mobilises more troops for Ukraine's war decisive invasion
)
'We have special forces': Netanyahu warns against any ICC arrest attempt abroad
)
Alert for torrential rains across Jammu division; flash flood risk over next five days
)
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke returns to Maharashtra, receives grand welcome in hometown
)
ICC announces 12 host venues for 2027 ODI World Cup
)
3.6mn people track 24hr Qantas flight from Melbourne to Toulouse: Pilot shifts, fuel tank and other details
)
British Airways flight comes close to 'nosediving' over London
)
NEET Protests riddled with misinformation? Delhi Police blocks 480 Pakistan-based handles spreading 'fake news' since Operation Sindoor
)
Hosts India sweep Malaysia for double gold in men’s and women’s Commonwealth Table Tennis finals
)
Pakistan avalanche: Four bodies found as search for Nirmal Purja and 9 other climbers enters critical phase
)
49,000 illegal migrants enter Spain from Morocco; 34 dead – What is happening in Ceuta?
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
Kiara Advani reveals why she chose Toxic, says character offered her 'all the meat an actor longs for'
)
Shehzad Poonawalla, BJP's national spokesperson quits politics? Here's what sparked social media buzz
)
23ft python swallows man returning from party in Indonesia; family find body whole inside reptile
)
"Am I Worthy?" Ranbir Kapoor addresses backlash over playing Lord Ram in Ramayana: Part 1
)
Commonwealth Games 2026 Day 9: India's full schedule, medal events and match timings
)
Karan Johar's The Traitors season 2 contestants: Rhea Chakraborty, Mallika Sherawat and Munawar Faruqui in the first batch
)
Have 7,000 Karnataka students tested positive for HIV? Here's the truth
)
Indian forces used pellet guns on Jul 20? SC hearing, police diary entry, MLC report and injured protesters' claims
)
'Living Nostradamus' warns of a new war, claims two of his 2026 predictions have come true
)
Student denied admission to IIT Kanpur's cybersecurity program hacks websites to prove a point
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (July 31, 2026): The Vacation Principle, Rao Bahadur, Chum- Watch 6 new movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
This Ramayana actor took ZERO fee from Rs 4000 crore film. Guess who?
)
Nearly Rs 29 crore cash, 15 kg gold found at ex-bus driver's house in West Bengal
In a statement, Air India said that economy class airfares on non-stop domestic flights have been proactively capped following the government’s notice.
“Air India & Air India Express clarify that, since 4 December, economy class airfares on non-stop domestic flights have been proactively capped to prevent the usual demand-and-supply mechanism being applied by revenue management systems,” the airline said.
“We are aware of screenshots of last-minute itineraries with one-stop or two-stop flights or a combination of economy and premium economy or business cabins taken from third party platforms. It is not technically possible to cap all such permutations, but we are engaging such platforms to exercise oversight,” it added. “Air India and Air India Express are seeking to add capacity to help travellers and their baggage reach their destinations as quickly as possible.”
