IndiGo crisis: Mumbai-Delhi flight fare soars to Rs 51,000, Delhi-Mumbai at Rs 48,000
Flight ticket prices from tourist destinations like Goa, where passengers were stranded, also rose, with a Saturday flight to Kolkata costing Rs 42,582.
With IndiGo’s operations taking a big hit and flights being cancelled, passengers across the country have been left stranded with limited seats and services available, while fares have skyrocketed. The only Mumbai-Delhi flight available for Friday was quoting a fare of Rs 51,860 per passenger, while the sole Delhi-Mumbai flight was showing seat availability at Rs 48,972—a steep rise from the normal economy ticket price of around Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000.
Various sectors are showing no flight availability for Friday, with ticket prices staying high on Saturday too. While there are no flights available on the Mumbai-Bengaluru route on Friday or Saturday, fares for Delhi-Bengaluru flights on Saturday are starting at Rs 39,101. Tickets for Delhi-Mumbai flights on Saturday are starting at Rs 24,999, while fares for Mumbai-Delhi flights on the same day begin at Rs 19,259 (3.20 am departure).
Riya Sharma, a 21-year-old student travelling from Mumbai to Delhi, is stranded. “I tried checking other airlines after my IndiGo flight was cancelled, but the fares from Mumbai to Delhi are impossible right now. Today’s only available seat was showing over Rs 50,000, and even for tomorrow, the starting price is around Rs 25,000. I can’t book any of that when my IndiGo refund hasn’t even come. My money is stuck, and the prices are too high. I have no way to travel.”
Amit Desai, travelling from Mumbai to Bengaluru, echoed the same frustration. “I checked every other airline after the cancellation, but there are no flights from Mumbai to Bengaluru for today or tomorrow, and the few seats on Saturday are starting near Rs 39,000. How do we rebook at those rates when our original ticket money is still with IndiGo? We’re just stranded here with no refunds, no options, and no clarity.”
Multiple passengers are also stranded at tourist destinations like Goa, resulting in a spike in air fares from such travel hotspots. While fares for Goa-Mumbai flights on Saturday start at Rs 20,669 and Goa-Delhi at Rs 35,946, tickets for Goa-Kolkata flights on Saturday start at Rs 42,582 per passenger.
The fares have been sourced from cleartrip.com between 2.30 pm and 2.50 pm.
104 flights cancelled at Mumbai
Services at Mumbai airport remained severely affected on Friday, with 104 flights cancelled, airport sources told The Indian Express. This includes 53 departures and 51 arrivals, marking the third straight day of large-scale disruptions for IndiGo.
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The cancellations have risen sharply compared to earlier in the week. On Wednesday, IndiGo cancelled 55 flights in total, 29 arrivals and 26 departures due to mounting crew shortages and network-wide schedule strain. The situation worsened on Thursday, with airport officials estimating 100 to 118 cancellations through the day as the airline struggled to stabilise rotations under the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms.
According to officials, the updated FDTL rules, which limit duty hours for pilots and cabin crew, have disrupted IndiGo’s rostering and created a shortage of deployable crew across key sectors. This has led to a cascading effect on aircraft schedules, particularly on high-density routes such as Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai.
IndiGo has apologised for the inconvenience and said it is offering full refunds or free rebooking for affected passengers. However, with rotations still uneven, officials expect delays and cancellations to continue through the day.
After Thursday’s cancellations, the airline briefed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) about its plan to fully restore flight operations, informing that it will reduce flights from December 8 and expects to fully restore stable flight operations by February 10, 2026.
On Friday, in a move that will come as a respite to the airline, the DGCA said, “In view of the ongoing operational disruptions and representations received from various airlines regarding the need to ensure continuity and stability of operations…the instruction contained in the referenced paragraph that no leave shall be substituted for weekly rest is hereby withdrawn with immediate effect.”
Naresh S is a Trainee Correspondent with The Indian Express, based out of Mumbai. A graduate of Xavier’s Institute of Communication (XIC), he has an avid interest in civic issues and policy-related domains. At present, he reports on the transport sector, covering suburban railways, BEST bus serives and aviation with a propensity for in-depth analyses and researched-focused reportage.
Core Coverage Areas:
Naresh reports on Mumbai’s urban mobility and public systems, with a focus on transport infrastructure, commuter safety, and policy execution. His reporting is research-driven and data-backed, aimed at explaining how large public systems function or fail, for everyday commuters.
Transport (Primary Beat):
His main beat is transport, covering Mumbai’s suburban railways and BEST bus services. His reportage in this domain spans detailed coverage of events like the Mumbra train accident and its safety implications, as well as follow-up reporting on long-standing gaps such as the delayed implementation of automatic doors on Mumbai local trains. He also tracks infrastructure projects, operational disruptions, and policy decisions affecting daily commuters, often through explainer-style stories.
Aviation (Secondary Beat):
Naresh also covers aviation and airport infrastructure, including reporting on the Navi Mumbai International Airport project. His aviation coverage has included the IndiGo flight disruptions in December 2025, focusing on passenger impact, regulatory response, and systemic issues within civil aviation operations. ... Read More
