Flight fares jump sharply after nationwide IndiGo cancellations

NEw new delhi: IndiGo's monumental flight of stairs cancellations crossways bharat have led to a significant surge in airfares across several key domestic routes, with prices skyrocketing to unprecedented levels, as passengers scrambled for alternatives.According to popular booking website MakeMyTrip (MMT) data, there are significant spikes on routes from Delhi to major metros and state capitals, with same-day non-stop flights costing up to double the rates available for neighbouring dates.Booking data on MakeMyTrip shows the cheapest Delhi-Bengaluru flight on December 6 costing in excess of ₹40,00 with some options exceeding ₹80,000.A passenger willing to travel from Delhi to Mumbai on December 6 has to pay a minimum of ₹36,107, while the maximum amount exceeds ₹56,000, as per MMT's data. For a return trip, one has to pay a minimum of ₹23,000 to reach the national capital, while the maximum amount exceeds ₹37,000.On the Delhi-Chennai route, last-minute fares climbed to ₹62,000-82,000.For passengers travelling from Delhi to Guwahati, the lowest fare was ₹23,998, while the highest was ₹35,015.To put this into perspective, a Delhi to Dubai flight on December 6 (tomorrow) would cost around ₹25,855, making international travel cheaper than flying between two Indian cities. Similarly, a Bengaluru-Dubai ticket is available for as low as around ₹15,000.Compared to these rates, international travel is way cheaper than domestic travel. A person will need to pay around ₹18,747 for a flight from Delhi to Bangkok.The disruption followed massive operational setbacks at IndiGo, with more than 500 flights delayed or cancelled nationwide, leaving airports overcrowded and passengers stranded.All IndiGo departures from Delhi Airport were cancelled until midnight, though other airlines continued operations as scheduled.With IndiGo working to stabilise operations, travel platforms suggest that fares are expected to normalise in the coming days, as reflected in significantly lower prices displayed for 9-12 December across Delhi routes.Meanwhile, to help stabilise flight operations and reduce disruptions for passengers, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has given IndiGo a one-time temporary exemption from two rules about late duty and late night operations until February 10, 2026.Passengers across multiple airports expressed strong frustration over operational failure, leaving many stranded with no clear communication or alternate travel options. They said that disruptions, attributed to staff shortages and new rules for crew members, have left many stranded at airports for hours without proper communication, food, or water.IndiGo has issued an apology, stating, "We do deeply apologize 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." (ANI)