Flyers hit by IndiGo mess get Rs 610 crore back; Govt rushes in with fare cap and 48-hour baggage ultimatum

Ministry caps fares, forces Rs 610 crore refunds, and orders 48-hour baggage delivery as IndiGo ramps up flights toward near-normal levels.

The Civil Aviation Ministry on Sunday said IndiGo has processed refunds amounting to Rs 610 crore so far as the airline continues to deal with widespread flight disruptions across the country.

Flight operations at the carrier have climbed from 706 on December 5 to 1,565 on December 6 and are likely to reach about 1,650 by the end of Sunday, the ministry said in a statement. Other domestic airlines are operating 'smoothly and at full capacity', it added.

Fare caps brought back to cool surging ticket prices

With cancellations pushing last-minute demand onto other flights and airfares spiking on key routes, the ministry imposed an immediate cap on ticket prices.

It said fares on affected routes have since 'moderated to acceptable limits' and directed all airlines to comply strictly with the revised fare bands.

The move, which echoes the fare caps used during the COVID-19 period, marks one of the most direct pricing interventions by the government since then and signals a willingness to step in when market-driven fares turn punitive for passengers.

Refunds and rescheduling under strict timelines

To limit financial loss for affected travellers, the ministry ordered IndiGo to complete refunds for all cancelled or severely delayed flights by 8 pm on Sunday.

According to the statement, IndiGo has so far processed Rs 610 crore in refunds. Airlines have also been barred from levying additional fees for rescheduling journeys that were disrupted by cancellations.

Dedicated support cells have been set up to handle refund and rebooking issues “without delay or inconvenience”, the ministry said.

48-hour deadline for stranded baggage

The ministry has directed IndiGo to trace and deliver all baggage separated from passengers during the disruption within 48 hours.

It said IndiGo has already delivered about 3,000 bags to passengers across India as of Saturday, and has been told to maintain “continuous communication” with travellers until all baggage is reconciled and returned.

Airports report smooth operations, no crowding

Airport directors in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Goa have reported normal conditions across terminals, the ministry said.

Passenger movement 'remains smooth' with no unusual crowding at check-in, security or boarding points. On-ground support has been strengthened through closer monitoring by airport operators and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

24×7 control room to monitor airlines and airports

The ministry’s 24×7 control room remains active as a central coordination hub, tracking flight operations, airport conditions and passenger complaints in real time.

Passenger calls are being 'promptly attended to', with teams deployed on the ground to supervise operational planning, crew rostering and passenger handling standards.

The ministry said it is ensuring 'full compliance' with its directions across airlines and airports.

Government frames intervention as passenger protection

The ministry reiterated that passenger safety, convenience and dignity are the 'highest priority' of the government and said India’s aviation network is 'moving swiftly toward full normalcy'.

It added that corrective measures, including fare caps, refund timelines and baggage directives, will remain in place until IndiGo’s operations are fully stabilised.