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 Centre Cracks Down After Mass Flight Cancellations

New Delhi: With IndiGo Airlines’ mass flight cancellations disrupting travel for thousands of passengers for the fifth consecutive day, the Civil Aviation Ministry on Saturday issued strict directives to the airline to complete all pending ticket refunds by 8 pm on Sunday and ensure that baggage separated from passengers is delivered within 48 hours. The government warned that any delay or non-compliance will invite immediate regulatory action.

The ministry’s intervention comes a day after IndiGo cancelled over 1,000 flights, deepening the nationwide aviation crisis and intensifying public outrage over passenger hardship.

Refunds by Sunday Evening, No Rescheduling Charges Allowed

In an official statement, the ministry made it clear that all refunds for cancelled or disrupted flights must be settled by 8 pm on Sunday. It also directed that no rescheduling charges be levied on passengers whose travel plans were affected by cancellations.

“Any delay or non-compliance in refund processing will attract immediate regulatory action,” the statement said, signalling strict enforcement in the wake of mounting complaints over delayed payments and unresponsive airline systems.

Dedicated Passenger Support Cells to Handle Crisis

To address grievances more efficiently, IndiGo has been instructed to set up dedicated passenger support and refund facilitation cells. These cells will be responsible for:

• Proactively contacting affected passengers.

• Ensuring refunds and alternative travel arrangements

• Preventing passengers from making repeated follow-ups

The ministry also confirmed that the automatic refund system will remain active until operations stabilise completely.

Stranded Baggage to Be Traced and Delivered in 48 Hours

Taking note of hundreds of cases in which passengers were separated from their luggage due to sudden cancellations and missed connections, the ministry ordered that all such baggage be traced and delivered within 48 hours. Passengers across major airports had reported being stranded without essentials, medicines and personal belongings after abrupt flight disruptions.

Airfare Caps Imposed as Ticket Prices Surge

Amid reduced flight operations and rising demand, airfares on several routes had shot up sharply, triggering fresh concern over passenger exploitation. In response, the government has invoked its regulatory powers and imposed airfare caps on select routes. “An official directive has been issued to all airlines mandating strict adherence to the prescribed fare limits,” the ministry said, adding that the caps will remain in force until the situation stabilises fully.

The government’s latest action marks one of the strongest regulatory interventions in recent years, as IndiGo—India’s largest airline—struggles to restore operational normalcy after unprecedented cancellations exposed the vulnerability of a highly concentrated aviation market.