The disruption affecting hundreds of IndiGo flights is hitting passengers’ wallets hard, as fares have surged sharply due to last-minute bookings on alternative airlines. Cancellations have triggered a surge in demand, causing flight prices to double or even triple, making domestic air travel increasingly unaffordable for many. In contrast, international flights remain relatively cheaper, highlighting the stark difference amid the crisis.
On the Delhi-Mumbai route, return economy tickets now cost nearly Rs 60,000—triple the typical last-minute fare of around Rs 20,000. One-way fares hover around Rs 35,000. Many other domestic routes, including Delhi to Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur, and Lucknow, show exorbitant fares, with Hyderabad tickets tomorrow reaching over Rs 48,000 compared to the usual Rs 7,000. Delhi-Kolkata flights today are nearly Rs 32,000, with round trips tomorrow hitting Rs 85,000, surpassing fares to Europe, where Delhi-London and Delhi-Paris round trips cost under Rs 60,000.
The operational chaos stems from IndiGo underestimating pilot and crew requirements under the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), which mandate longer rest periods, forcing hundreds of domestic cancellations and forcing passengers to pay inflated prices for alternate flights.
