 "Air India confirmed it would refund economy passengers who paid above the newly approved fare ceiling, saying the difference would be returned. (ANI)")
With the dust yet to settle after days of chaotic flight disruptions, Air India has rolled out revised fares in response to a government directive for airlines to cap ticket prices. The order came after authorities observed steep fare spikes triggered by mass cancellations across IndiGo’s network over the past week. Alongside the new caps, Air India announced refunds for economy class passengers who purchased tickets above the approved ceiling during the transition period, stating that they would receive the difference back.
In a statement issued shortly after midnight, Air India confirmed that Air India Express had already completed its transition to the new capped fares, while Air India itself would bring the changes into force over the next few hours. The airline explained that the process required a phased rollout due to dependencies on external systems, adding that accuracy and stability were essential to avoid any interference with ongoing bookings.
IndiGo mayhem
A total of 71 IndiGo flights—38 departures and 33 arrivals—were cancelled at Chennai airport on Monday amid ongoing operational disruptions. Hyderabad airport also saw significant impact, with 77 IndiGo flights affected, according to officials quoted by ANI. The airline has now faced six straight days of turmoil, with cancellations exceeding 1,000 on Friday.
As passengers scrambled for alternatives, fares on other carriers such as Akasa Air, Air India and SpiceJet surged sharply.
Responding to passenger distress and the sudden escalation in prices, the civil aviation ministry invoked its regulatory authority and directed all airlines to keep airfares under close scrutiny. The ministry said the caps would remain until the situation had fully stabilised, noting that the goal was to maintain pricing discipline, prevent exploitation, and shield travellers such as senior citizens, students and patients from financial strain.
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View AllIndiGo’s operations have begun to recover, with fewer cancellations recorded on Sunday. The airline has also issued refunds exceeding ₹610 crore to affected passengers, as required by the government.