NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has issued an urgent directive imposing strict fare caps across domestic routes, following a sharp and unreasonable surge in ticket prices triggered by widespread disruptions in IndiGo’s flight operations. The order, released on 6 December 2025, mandates all airlines to adhere to fixed maximum fares to prevent passenger exploitation during the ongoing crisis.
According to the official notification (Order No. 01/2025), capacity constraints and mass cancellations by one scheduled airline have caused fares to skyrocket on several sectors. In response, MoCA has invoked its regulatory powers to introduce route-wise maximum fare ceilings, effective immediately:
| Stage Length | Maximum Fare (₹) |
|---|---|
| Up to 500 km | 7,500 |
| 500–1000 km | 12,000 |
| 1000–1500 km | 15,000 |
| Above 1500 km | 18,000 |
These limits exclude UDF, PSF and applicable taxes. They will remain in force until fare levels stabilise or until further review, and do not apply to business class or RCS-UDAN flights.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu underscored the government’s firm stance, stating:
“Taking note of unreasonable surge in fares due to disruptions in flight operations of IndiGo, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed all airlines to maintain strict adherence to prescribed fare caps.”
Mandatory Passenger Relief Measures
The order also details a series of obligations for airlines to ensure passenger convenience:
- Maintain ticket availability across all fare buckets and enhance capacity on high-demand sectors.
- Avoid steep or unusual upward fare revisions on routes affected by cancellations.
- Provide maximum possible support to affected travellers, including alternate flight arrangements wherever feasible.
- Ensure uniform application of fare caps irrespective of whether tickets are booked directly or through online travel platforms.
MoCA has instructed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to monitor fare levels in real time across the listed sectors to ensure full compliance. Any deviation will attract immediate regulatory intervention.
The directive, signed by Joint Secretary Shobhit Gupta, takes effect immediately and has been issued with approval from the competent authority.
As IndiGo continues to stabilise its operations, the Ministry emphasises that its priority is to safeguard passengers—especially senior citizens, students, and those travelling under urgent circumstances—from sudden financial hardship caused by opportunistic pricing.
