The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sharply criticised the Centre for failing to prevent the unprecedented airfare spike during IndiGo’s ongoing operational crisis, which has led to widespread flight cancellations and chaos across major airports.
A bench headed by Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya called the situation “alarming” and questioned why the government allowed ticket prices to soar to Rs 35,000–40,000, and in some cases even higher, before stepping in.
“If there were a crisis, how can other airlines be permitted to take advantage? How can fares go up to 35–40k?” the court asked, adding that the situation had serious implications not just for passengers but also for the wider economy.
The court said the government appeared to act only after the crisis had escalated, rather than preventing the surge in prices from the outset.
Responding to the bench, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma said that the Centre had already issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo and that strict action was in progress.
During the turmoil, airfares on high-demand routes like Delhi–Mumbai had skyrocketed—touching Rs 65,460 for a non-stop ticket last week. Following public outrage and judicial scrutiny, the government imposed caps on domestic economy-class fares to stabilise the market.
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