Delhi High Court Criticises Government Over Rampant Fare Hikes Amid IndiGo Flight Crisis

The Delhi High Court has sharply criticised the Centre’s handling of the ongoing flight chaos triggered by IndiGo — questioning how domestic airfares climbed to as much as ₹40,000, and demanding to know why the crisis was allowed to escalate. The bench held that such extreme price spikes during mass cancellations were unjustifiable and called for immediate compensation to passengers left stranded.

The high-level bench cited ticket fares that ordinarily fall near ₹5,000 surging to ₹35,000–₹40,000 on popular routes, a jump it called “alarming.” It questioned why other airlines were permitted to exploit the crisis and hike fares so drastically. The court noted that the disruption was not merely an inconvenience for travellers, but had broader economic repercussions, affecting the country’s mobility and economy.

While the government pointed to remedial steps such as issuing a show-cause notice to IndiGo and capping some flights, the court maintained that these measures came only after the crisis erupted — raising serious doubts about proactive oversight. It pressed the government and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to explain why stricter monitoring and passenger-protection mechanisms were not in place earlier, especially after revised pilot-duty norms were introduced.

In its orders, the High Court directed IndiGo to compensate all affected passengers for cancellations and related hardships. It also asked for a full report on the crisis from the government, to be submitted by January 22, 2026. The court warned that merely citing “operational disruption” would not absolve regulatory bodies or airlines from accountability.

The ruling has intensified scrutiny on IndiGo’s preparedness and the aviation regulator’s oversight, amplifying calls for structural changes to prevent such widespread disruption in the future. As multiple airline-industry reforms come under debate, this judgment is likely to shape how airlines handle crises — and how swiftly authorities respond when citizens’ rights are on the line.