IndiGo meltdown triggers massive surge in airfares — domestic flights now costlier than international travel: What travellers must know

Domestic airfares skyrocket after IndiGo meltdown, making international travel cheaper than flying within India

India’s largest airline is going through one of its worst operational crises—and passengers are paying the price. After four consecutive days of mass cancellations at IndiGo, domestic airfares on key routes have skyrocketed to levels higher than international flights, leaving thousands stranded and scrambling for alternatives.

Over 1,000 Flights Cancelled, Delhi Worst Hit

IndiGo cancelled more than 700 flights on December 5 alone, pushing the total number of cancellations past 1,000 in just four days. Delhi Airport faced the brunt of the meltdown, with all IndiGo departures grounded until midnight, causing severe disruption across the country.

The fallout has been massive: overcrowded airports, long queues, frustrated travellers, and a sudden spike in ticket prices as demand spilled over to other airlines.

Domestic Fares Hit Unprecedented Levels

With IndiGo operating at a fraction of its usual capacity, travellers searching for last-minute alternatives have been stunned by the fares.

According to MakeMyTrip data:

• Delhi–Bengaluru (Dec 6): Fares crossed Rs 80,000.
• Delhi–Chennai: Shot up to Rs 62,000–82,000.
• Delhi–Mumbai: Minimum Rs 36,107, rising above Rs 56,000.
• Mumbai–Delhi return: Minimum Rs 23,000, max Rs 37,000.

In contrast:

• Delhi–Dubai (Dec 6): around Rs 27,000.
• Delhi–Bangkok: around Rs 18,747.
• Bengaluru–Dubai: less than Rs 15,000.

The bizarre situation has made it cheaper to fly abroad than between two Indian metros.

(Source: ANI)

Thousands Stranded as IndiGo Struggles to Stabilise Operations

IndiGo has acknowledged the crisis, apologising to passengers and urging patience: “We do deeply apologise and understand how difficult the past few days have been for many of you. While this will not get resolved overnight, we assure you that we will do everything in our capacity to help you in the meantime and to bring our operations back to normal at the earliest.”

Passengers, however, continue to report long delays, lack of communication, and inadequate assistance at airports. Many have been stuck at terminals for hours without food or water.

Government Steps In: DGCA Grants Rule Exemptions, Monitoring Airfares

To prevent further chaos, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted IndiGo a one-time temporary exemption from specific crew duty and night-operation rules—valid until February 10, 2026—to help restore flight schedules.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has also issued strict orders to airlines and IndiGo, mandating:

• Full schedule stabilisation by midnight.
• Automatic full refunds for cancelled flights.
• Lounge access for senior citizens.
• Accommodation for stranded passengers.
• Refreshments for travellers on delayed flights.
• A 24×7 control room to monitor disruptions.
• Transparent passenger information systems.

Fares Likely to Normalise Soon

Travel platforms indicate that fares for December 9–12 have already dropped to normal levels, suggesting the surge is temporary and directly linked to IndiGo’s mass cancellations.

However, for passengers who needed to travel immediately, today’s price shock has highlighted how fragile India’s aviation system can be when its biggest carrier falters.