Centre caps airfares, orders IndiGo to trace, deliver passengers' luggage within 48 hours

The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Saturday mandated strict maximum fare ceilings for all domestic economy-class flights. Officials said the move was essential to safeguard passengers after days of mass cancellations and capacity shortages triggered by IndiGo’s operational crisis. The new fare limits effective immediately are based on distance bands.

Check the fare caps 

These caps exclude charges such as UDF, PSF and applicable taxes. Business-class fares and flights under the UDAN regional scheme remain outside the ambit of the new restrictions.

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MoCA directs IndiGo to deliver separated baggage within 48 hours

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) also ordered IndiGo to trace and deliver all passenger baggage separated due to flight cancellations or delays within the next 48 hours. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu also directed the airline to clear all pending refunds for disrupted or cancelled flights by 8 PM on December 7. The ministry instructed IndiGo not to levy any rescheduling charges for affected passengers and to set up dedicated support and refund facilitation cells to proactively assist travellers. Airlines have been told to maintain clear communication regarding baggage tracking and delivery, and to provide compensation where applicable. MoCA emphasized strengthened oversight to ensure smooth facilitation for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, students, and passengers with urgent medical travel, while efforts continue to restore full operational normalcy.

IndiGo waives cancellation and rescheduling fees

As the crisis deepened, IndiGo announced a full waiver on cancellation and rescheduling fees for travel between 5 and 15 December 2025.  The airline said refunds would be automatically processed to the original mode of payment, requiring no action from passengers. The measure aims to offer “maximum flexibility” as large-scale disruptions continue.

Flight cancellations persist nationwide

Despite some signs of stabilisation, IndiGo entered a fourth straight day of disruptions on Saturday. More than 1,000 flights were grounded on Friday alone, following over 550 cancellations the previous day. Delhi airport reported gradual improvement, though cancellations continued across several cities. In Thiruvananthapuram, six flights were cancelled, while Ahmedabad saw 19 cancellations between midnight and 6 am on December 6.

Government says normalcy expected soon

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said the situation is “significantly improving” and that airport congestion is expected to ease by Sunday. He confirmed that a committee has been formed to investigate the disruptions and identify systemic lapses.

“The backlogs of the last two days have been cleared. From tomorrow, we expect normal operations without congestion or long waits,” the minister said, adding that the government is closely reviewing flight duty time limits, scheduling patterns, and overall compliance across airlines.

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