'How can flight tickets cost Rs 35-39k?' Delhi HC pulls up Centre; asks what steps were taken during IndiGo chaos

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Wednesday pulled up the Centre over the chaos faced by air travellers amid disruptions at IndiGo, questioning why the government failed to prevent airfares from soaring to Rs 35,000–Rs 39,000 and what immediate measures were taken to assist stranded passengers. “Why did such a situation even precipitate? What steps were taken to assist passengers?” it asked. "Question also is, if there was a crisis how can other airlines be permitted to take advantage? How can it go to 35-39k? How could other airlines start charging? How can it happen?" Live Law quoted Justice Gedela saying. The additional solicitor general told the court that a show-cause notice had already been served to the airline, which responded with a “profuse apology.” He further noted that implementation of the FDTL scheme had been delayed since 2024 due to the carrier’s repeated pleas for extensions and its continued assurances before the single-judge bench. The bench asked the government to explain the arrangements made to manage stranded travellers and prevent harassment at airports. “If they failed, what action did you take? You allowed the situation to reach this point,” it said.

The IndiGo crisis drew the attention of both the Delhi high court and the Supreme Court against the backdrop of mounting frustration among air travellers after airlines cancelled hundreds of flights nationwide, triggering widespread disruption. The HC agreed to hear a plea on the matter after SC acknowledged the gravity of the situation, calling it a “serious matter,” even as it declined an urgent hearing. "It is a serious matter. Lakhs of people are stranded at the airports.

We know that the government of India has taken timely action and cognisance of the issue," CJI Surya Kant had said. IndiGo has come under sharp criticism from both the central government and travellers after it scrapped hundreds of flights since December 2, attributing the large-scale disruptions to changes in pilots’ flight duty and rest regulations. The cancellations have caused massive inconvenience, leaving lakhs of passengers stranded at airports nationwide.