NEW DELHI: In response to soaring airfares during the ongoing IndiGo crisis, the government has reintroduced airfare caps for the first time since the Covid pandemic. The Ministry of Civil Aviation announced this measure on Saturday, stating it has taken serious note of the unusually high ticket prices charged by various airlines amid the disruption caused by IndiGo's flight cancellations.

The ministry invoked its regulatory powers to ensure fair pricing across affected routes, aiming to protect passengers from opportunistic pricing. These fare caps will remain in effect until IndiGo's operations return to normal, which is anticipated by December 15. The government has also paused new flight duty regulations for pilots to help the airline stabilize its services.

This decision comes too late for many passengers who had booked IndiGo flights earlier this week. With the airline cancelling hundreds of flights, many were forced to purchase tickets from other airlines at inflated prices. For example, Geeta Srivastava, who had originally booked a Delhi-Udaipur-Delhi ticket for Rs 11,000, ended up paying Rs 24,000 for a last-minute ticket on another airline after cancelling her IndiGo flight. She expressed frustration, stating, "Of what use is the govt directive? Throughout this crisis, the aviation ministry has been nothing but a mute spectator."

IndiGo, which holds a 65% share of the domestic market, has seen a significant drop in its flight operations, with over 1,000 flights cancelled on Friday alone. This has led to a surge in demand for the remaining 35% of domestic flights, resulting in skyrocketing fares. The ministry has mandated that all airlines adhere strictly to the newly imposed fare caps, which are designed to prevent exploitation of passengers, especially vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, students, and patients.

The ministry stated, "The objective of this directive is to maintain pricing discipline in the market and ensure that citizens who urgently need to travel are not subjected to financial hardship during this period." It will continue to monitor fare levels closely and take corrective action against any deviations from the prescribed norms.

In addition to the fare caps, the ministry has directed IndiGo to resolve the disruptions and stabilize its flight schedules promptly. Passengers affected by cancellations will receive automatic refunds, and those stranded will be accommodated in hotels. Special provisions are also in place to assist senior citizens and provide refreshments for delayed flights.

As the situation develops, the government remains committed to restoring normalcy in air travel and addressing the concerns of passengers affected by the ongoing crisis.