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Other airlines must not charge fares higher than the prescribed limit : Union Government

IndiGo’s crisis continues: Over 2,000 flights cancelled so far

New Delhi – Hundreds of flights of IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, were cancelled on 6 December as well. As a result, passengers continued to face inconvenience on this day too. It is being reported that in the last four days, the number of cancelled flights has crossed 2,000, affecting over 3 lakh passengers. Many passengers also reported missing luggage. There are indications that IndiGo’s flight operations may remain disrupted for the next few days. IndiGo has stated that normal operations may take until 15 December to resume fully. Owing to this situation, the Union Government has directed that passengers must be refunded for their tickets. At the same time, the government has also instructed other airlines not to increase fares to take advantage of the crisis.

It is IndiGo’s fault : Union Minister Naidu

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said that although new regulations came into effect on 1 November, no other airline has faced such issues. This clearly indicates that the fault lies with IndiGo. An enquiry will be conducted into the company’s negligence and action will be taken against those responsible.

A day later, the Civil Aviation Ministry also noted that some airlines were charging extra fares due to the situation created by IndiGo. The ministry has issued guidelines to all airlines, requiring strict compliance with fare limits. These limits will remain in place until the situation stabilises. The purpose of these directives is to maintain discipline in fare pricing, prevent exploitation of affected passengers, and ensure that senior citizens, students, and patients do not face financial burden during this period.

Matter reaches Supreme Court

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court regarding the situation caused by IndiGo. The petition demands legal intervention, stating that large-scale cancellations and delays amount to a humanitarian crisis and violate passenger rights.

New fare limits set by the Government

1. For travel up to 500 km, the maximum airfare is ₹7,500.

2. For distances between 500 km to 1,000 km, the maximum fare is ₹12,000.

3. For 1,000 km to 1,500 km, the maximum fare is ₹15,000.

4. For distances above 1,500 km, the maximum fare is ₹18,000.

These regulations will apply uniformly to all airlines and all ticket booking platforms.

Editorial Perspective

If at any time airlines charge fares beyond the prescribed limit, it must be treated as a crime. The Union Government must make a legal provision for this; otherwise, the public will continue to be exploited !

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