Govt Steps In To Protect Passengers From 'Opportunistic Pricing' Amid Soaring Air Fares Following Indigo Mess

New Delhi: The Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued a statement regarding concerns raised by passengers over skyrocketing airfares amid Indigo’s "operational disruptions" leading to a chaos in India's aviation sector.

In a press release, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said, "In order to protect passengers from any form of opportunistic pricing, the Ministry has invoked its regulatory powers to ensure fair and reasonable fares across all affected routes."

"An official directive has been issued to all airlines mandating strict adherence to the fare caps that have now been prescribed. These caps will remain in force until the situation fully stabilises," the press release further stated.

Taking note of the financial hardship passengers are facing due to skyrocketing airfares, the Civil Aviation Ministry said, "The objective of this directive is to maintain pricing discipline in the market, prevent any exploitation of passengers in distress, and ensure that citizens who urgently need to travel — including senior citizens, students, and patients — are not subjected to financial hardship during this period."

The Ministry further said that it will closely monitor fare levels through real-time data and active coordination with airlines and online travel platforms.

"Any deviation from the prescribed norms will attract immediate corrective action in the larger public interest," the government warned.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed airlines, especially IndiGo, to implement measures immediately to resolve the severe disruption to flight schedules and stabilise services without delay, an official statement said.

Two orders have been issued to address problems faced by the public and restore service stability, especially on IndiGo.

The order said, "It is expected: All flight schedules would stabilise and begin returning to normal midnight tonight; Full services and stability should return over the next couple of days; Passengers can track delays, if any, from home through information system installed by IndiGo and others; In the event of flight cancellation IndiGo will ensure automatic full refund for tickets."

"If passengers are stranded, they will be put up at hotels where accommodation has been booked by airlines. Special measures have been taken to ensure senior citizens are not discomfited in any manner. They will be provided with lounge access; Passengers of delayed flights will be provided with refreshments and other necessities; A 24x7 control room at the Ministry of Civil Aviation is constantly monitoring the situation on a time basis," the order further read.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation said that the Central Government is fully alert to the woes of air passengers and is in constant consultation with all stakeholders. "Every possible measure, including rule exemptions as announced by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Friday, will be taken to restore schedules and ensure stability to mitigate the public's woes," the statement added.

Also Read: IndiGo Flight Disruptions Triggers 4x Hike in Airfares Nationwide