New Delhi, December 5, 2025 – The ongoing crisis at IndiGo Airlines has triggered a dramatic surge in domestic airfares across India, leaving passengers frustrated, stranded, and forced to pay exorbitant amounts for last-minute travel. According to data from popular booking platform MakeMyTrip (MMT), routes from Delhi to major metropolitan cities and state capitals have seen fares double or even triple compared to neighbouring travel dates, highlighting the severe ripple effects of the airline’s operational disruption.

The disruptions are part of a broader operational crisis that has now entered its fourth day, with more than 500 flights cancelled daily and tens of thousands of passengers impacted nationwide. Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad have emerged as the worst-hit airports, where passengers faced long queues, confusion over flight status, and limited assistance from airline staff.

Domestic Fares Skyrocket

The fare spike is stark. On December 6, a Delhi-Bengaluru flight could cost upwards of ₹40,000, with certain options reaching as high as ₹80,000 for same-day travel. Similarly, passengers flying from Delhi to Mumbai were quoted minimum fares of ₹36,107, with peak fares exceeding ₹56,000, while return trips to the national capital went for ₹23,000–₹37,000. Last-minute travel on the Delhi-Chennai route commanded fares of ₹62,000–82,000, and even flights from Delhi to Guwahati ranged between ₹23,998 and ₹35,015.

In a striking comparison, international travel from India has become cheaper than domestic flights in some cases. For instance, a Delhi-Dubai ticket on December 6 is priced at approximately ₹25,855, while a Bengaluru-Dubai flight is available for around ₹15,000. Similarly, flights from Delhi to Bangkok cost around ₹18,747, underscoring the extraordinary domestic fare inflation caused by IndiGo’s operational collapse.

Reasons Behind the Disruptions

The root of the crisis lies in IndiGo’s inability to adapt to the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms, which came into effect in phases over the past two years. These regulations, designed to reduce pilot fatigue and improve flight safety, have forced airlines to revise crew scheduling and rest periods. While the safety-oriented rules are essential, IndiGo’s high-frequency, high-utilization operational model—particularly for its A320 fleet—made compliance challenging, leading to cascading cancellations and delays.

IndiGo officials admitted that the operational collapse was the result of “misjudgment and planning gaps” in implementing the new norms. The airline’s on-time performance plummeted to a record low of 8.5 percent, highlighting the severity of the disruptions. To mitigate the crisis, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted IndiGo a temporary exemption from rules concerning late duty and night operations until February 10, 2026, allowing the airline some operational flexibility to stabilize its schedule.

Passenger Distress

Passengers have borne the brunt of the chaos. Many were left stranded at airports for hours with minimal communication, no access to alternate flights, and limited assistance. Some, like Namita, a Bengaluru-based traveller attempting to reach Haridwar for her father’s asthi visarjan, faced emotionally and financially distressing circumstances. With no flights available and alternative fares soaring to ₹60,000 per person, she was unable to reach her destination in time for a crucial ritual, highlighting the deeply personal consequences of the disruptions.

Others reported confusion over refunds and rebooking policies, with IndiGo promising partial refunds only after a week, leaving passengers uncertain about potential deductions. Social media platforms were flooded with complaints about the lack of timely information, long queues at airline counters, and exorbitant ticket prices on alternative carriers.

Political and Regulatory Fallout

The IndiGo crisis has also entered the political arena. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari raised the matter in the Rajya Sabha, alleging that the airline’s operational failures highlighted a monopoly in India’s aviation sector. Tiwari emphasized the inconvenience faced by passengers and even MPs scheduled to travel home, urging the civil aviation minister to brief Parliament on the steps being taken.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju responded by assuring that the Centre was actively engaging with regulators and the airline to restore operations. He noted that authorities are monitoring IndiGo’s adjustments to the new crew duty norms and that measures are being implemented to prevent further passenger distress.

Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, echoed concerns about monopolistic practices in domestic aviation, suggesting that over-reliance on a single carrier has amplified the crisis. Gandhi criticized the government for allowing a “monopoly model” to prevail, asserting that ordinary citizens have paid the price in terms of delays, cancellations, and inflated fares.

Steps Towards Stabilisation

IndiGo has expressed regret and apologized to passengers, acknowledging the hardship caused by the disruptions. In a statement, the airline said, “We do deeply apologize and understand how difficult the past few days have been for many of you. While this will not get resolved overnight, we assure you that we will do everything in our capacity to help you in the meantime and to bring our operations back to normal at the earliest.”

Travel platforms have reported that fares are expected to normalise in the coming days, particularly from December 9 onwards, as IndiGo stabilizes operations and reschedules flights. However, for passengers planning immediate travel, costs remain prohibitively high, and uncertainty persists over availability and connectivity, especially for popular routes.

Broader Implications

The crisis underscores the vulnerability of India’s domestic aviation sector to regulatory changes and operational bottlenecks. IndiGo, which operates more than half of the country’s domestic capacity, demonstrates the systemic risk posed by market concentration. The lack of alternative carriers on high-demand routes has left passengers exposed to extreme price fluctuations and service disruptions.

Analysts suggest that the incident may prompt regulatory review and market reforms, focusing on contingency planning, competition enhancement, and better passenger protection mechanisms. Enhanced communication protocols, clearer refund policies, and alternative arrangements during operational disruptions are now seen as critical areas for improvement.

Conclusion

The IndiGo flight disruptions of December 2025 represent one of the most severe operational crises in India’s domestic aviation history. Passengers have faced significant financial, emotional, and logistical challenges, while political leaders have called for greater accountability and regulatory intervention.

As IndiGo works to stabilize operations, the DGCA continues to monitor the situation closely, and the government is under pressure to ensure passenger welfare and prevent similar disruptions in the future. The current fare spike, coupled with limited travel options, serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of a monopolized aviation sector and the urgent need for resilience, competition, and passenger-centric policies in India’s fast-growing air travel market.