Delhi-Bengaluru airfares shoot up to ₹39,719 as airlines cash in on Indigo disruptions

Mass flight cancellations by Indigo trigger sharp fare hikes on key routes as other airlines raise prices despite DGCA’s instruction not to escalate fares.

A major disruption in Indigo’s daily operations, involving the cancellation of 500 to 1000 flights per day, has created a severe crisis in India’s aviation sector. The sudden drop in available flights has been used as an opportunity by several other carriers to sharply increase airfares across busy routes.

On the Bengaluru-Delhi sector, fares for Sunday have surged to a minimum of ₹24,500 and a maximum of ₹39,719. This marks a dramatic jump from the usual ₹5,000-₹7,000 fare range, where even peak prices typically do not exceed ₹8,000. Airlines including Air India, SpiceJet, Akasa Air and Alliance Air have all increased their ticket prices during this period of disruption.

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The situation remains the same on the return route as well. Delhi–Bengaluru fares for Sunday (December 7) start at ₹22,736, rising to ₹39,101. Chennai-Delhi ticket prices have also climbed steeply, ranging from ₹20,000 to ₹35,403 for the same day.

This price escalation continues despite clear directions from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation instructing airlines to avoid fare hikes during the ongoing operational crisis. However, there has been no reduction in fares, with carriers appearing to disregard the advisory.

Indigo’s disruption has caused widespread inconvenience, with passengers stranded at airports and struggling to rebook flights at reasonable prices. The airline is expected by the Centre to restore normal operations within two days, though internal assessments indicate that full recovery may require time until December 15, according to its top leadership.

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For passengers, the crisis has become an unfair burden, while airlines take advantage of reduced competition, travellers are left grappling with extremely high prices. The situation resembles an uneven battle where airlines benefit financially while the public faces significant distress.