Aviation Crisis in India as IndiGo Flight Cancellations Trigger Surge in Domestic Airfares

New Delhi: India's aviation sector is reeling from a severe crisis as IndiGo, the country's largest airline, cancels hundreds of flights, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and sparking a dramatic surge in domestic airfares.

The chaos began on Wednesday, with IndiGo citing pilot shortages and operational glitches as the reason for the cancellations. As of Friday, over 1,300 flights have been grounded, with Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad airports among the worst affected.

The sudden reduction in capacity has led to a sharp increase in airfares, with some domestic tickets skyrocketing to over Rs 70,000 (approximately BD 320). SpiceJet, another major carrier, is charging up to Rs 80,000 (BD 365) for single-sector flights, a massive jump from normal fares of Rs 5,000-12,000 (BD 23-BD 55).

The Indian government has stepped in, with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordering IndiGo to stabilise operations and keep airfares in check. The airline has apologised for the disruptions and promised to provide refunds and rebooking options to affected passengers.

As the crisis continues, passengers are advised to check flight status before heading to airports and explore alternative travel options.