New Delhi: A wave of mass cancellations by IndiGo has led to a sharp rise in airfares on competing airlines as passengers scramble to find alternative flights on routes typically dominated by India’s largest carrier.
On Sunday, one-way economy tickets from Delhi to Mumbai on non-IndiGo airlines are priced between Rs 21,577 and Rs 39,000. Tickets from Bengaluru to Kolkata are going for Rs 20,000 to Rs 23,000, while Chennai to Delhi fares hover around Rs 21,000.
IndiGo, which controls 64% of India’s domestic market, has informed passengers that it expects to return to normal operations between December 10 and 15. While seats on IndiGo flights for the coming days are still available, they are priced about half of what rival airlines are charging due to uncertainty around the ongoing operational disruptions.
The other carriers—Air India, Air India Express, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air—together hold only 36% of domestic market share. As passengers flock to these smaller airlines, demand surges, leading to a sharp increase in fares due to limited seat availability. Regional routes have seen even steeper fare hikes. For instance, one-way economy tickets from Udaipur to Delhi on Sunday are priced between Rs 15,367 and Rs 26,406 on non-IndiGo carriers. Similarly, Udaipur to Mumbai fares are ranging from Rs 24,000 to Rs 35,000.
Mahima Shukla, a Delhi-based chartered accountant, flew to Udaipur on Friday with Air India Express and was scheduled to return on an IndiGo flight Sunday. “I’m trying to cancel the return ticket because I need to be back in the office Monday. Udaipur-Delhi flights on other airlines are costing upwards of Rs 21,000. It’s a double blow,” she said.
A Delhi-based businessman described the current situation as “possibly the worst phase in Indian aviation in many years.” He added, “While fares are skyrocketing, our confidence in the system has hit rock bottom.”
