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

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday questioned the Centre and concerned authorities on how other airlines were allowed to charge fares as high as Rs 40,000 for tickets which usually cost around Rs 5,000 during the IndiGo flight cancellations chaos over the past few days, which affected lakhs of passengers across the country.

“If there were a crisis, how could other airlines be allowed to take advantage? How can fares jump to Rs 35,000–39,000? How could other carriers start charging these amounts? How can this happen?” a Delhi High Court Bench asked.

In response, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, representing the government, submitted that the “statutory mechanism is totally in place” as he referred to relevant documents during the hearing.

The ASG informed the court that the Centre had been aiming to implement the FDTL for a long time, but IndiGo had sought extensions for the July and November phases before the single judge.

“This is the first time the Ministry has intervened. We have capped the fares this cap itself is a stringent regulatory action,” he submitted.