Airfare Set To Surge Again, Price May Reach ₹50,000 For Trunk Routes As Airlines Seek Cap Removal

New Delhi: Air passengers are likely to face a fresh wave of high airfares as airlines are seeking the removal of fare caps imposed during the IndiGo crisis in December. The development comes as airlines are apparently incurring huge losses and higher operational costs as fuel prices have jumped amid the ongoing war in the Middle East.

Under the 6E crisis framework, fares were capped by the government at ₹7,500 (≤500 km), ₹12,000 (500–1000 km), ₹15,000 (1000–1500 km), and ₹18,000 (>1500 km), providing a ceiling against extreme surge pricing. Prior to the caps, passengers frequently faced volatile and often elevated fares, especially on high-demand routes and last-minute bookings.

If the price cap is removed, the fare can jump to Rs 50,000+ for trunk routes.

Here are the projected fares if the cap is removed:

• ≤500 km- ₹2,000 to ₹15,000+
• 500-1000 km- ₹3,000 to ₹25,000+
• 1000-1500 km- ₹5,000 to ₹35,000+
• >1500 km- ₹6,000 to ₹50,000+

FIA's Petition To MoCA

The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), representing the country’s leading carriers, including Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet, has issued an urgent petition to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) seeking the immediate removal of domestic airfare caps.

The FIA stated that the industry is facing a financially stressful environment. The federation argued that the original crisis conditions of December 2025, which initially prompted the government to impose price controls, have now stabilized, and market pricing has normalized.

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