New Delhi— Air travel within India turned dramatically expensive on Thursday after IndiGo’s large-scale flight cancellations triggered a sharp surge in fares across major domestic routes. With more than 500 flights cancelled or severely delayed nationwide, passengers rushed to book alternatives, pushing ticket prices to record highs.
Data from booking platform MakeMyTrip showed extraordinary fare spikes on high-traffic routes from Delhi to major metros. A same-day non-stop Delhi–Bengaluru ticket for December 6 crossed Rs 40,000, with some last-minute options soaring beyond Rs 80,000. The Delhi–Mumbai sector showed a minimum fare of Rs 36,107 and prices climbing above Rs 56,000. Return tickets to Delhi ranged from Rs 23,000 to over Rs 37,000.
Other routes also reflected the chaos. Delhi–Chennai fares rose to the Rs 62,000–82,000 range, while flights from Delhi to Guwahati were priced between Rs 23,998 and Rs 35,015. The sudden spike created a situation where international tickets appeared cheaper than domestic journeys. A Delhi–Dubai flight for December 6 was listed at Rs 25,855, while a Bengaluru–Dubai ticket could be booked for around Rs 15,000. A Delhi–Bangkok seat cost roughly Rs 18,747, further highlighting the price distortion.
The surge followed widespread disruption in IndiGo’s operations, reportedly caused by crew shortages and new regulatory requirements. Airports across the country witnessed long queues and large crowds as passengers struggled to rebook or find alternative travel. Delhi Airport saw all IndiGo departures cancelled until midnight, even as other airlines continued normal operations.
Travel platforms noted that fares for travel between December 9 and 12 were significantly lower, suggesting that prices could stabilise once operations normalise. To ease the immediate pressure, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation granted IndiGo a one-time relaxation of two regulations related to late duty and late-night operations, effective until February 10, 2026.
Passengers expressed anger over poor communication, long delays and lack of assistance at airports. Many reported being stranded for hours without clear updates, food or water. Acknowledging the crisis, IndiGo issued a public apology, saying it understood the distress caused. The airline added that while the situation would not improve overnight, efforts were underway to restore operations as quickly as possible.
