The Indian government has invoked its regulatory powers to set a limit on airfares. This measure seeks to control the dizzying increase in prices caused by the crisis at IndiGo airline, which resulted in massive flight cancellations across the country. The Ministry of Civil Aviation issued a directive to all airlines, demanding strict compliance with already established fare limits. The objective is to protect passengers from any form of price gouging during the crisis. The ministry assured that it will continue to closely monitor prices through real-time data and maintain active coordination with airlines and online travel platforms.
In a separate statement, the ministry has ordered IndiGo, India's largest airline, to process all passenger refunds without delay. The airline's operational crisis was attributed to a shortage of pilots and cabin crew. This shortage was caused by the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules, which require longer rest periods for staff. IndiGo has publicly admitted to miscalculating the number of pilots needed under the new, stricter FDTL rules. The Indian government, for its part, has ordered an investigation into the "mismanagement" at IndiGo and has constituted a committee to determine responsibility for the collapse of its operations.
