India’s aviation sector is implementing aggressive recovery measures following massive flight disruptions from budget carrier IndiGo. The Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed the airline has processed refunds totaling ₹6,100 million (approximately $73 million) while instituting critical consumer protection policies.
Regulatory intervention has been substantial, with authorities mandating that passengers rescheduling affected flights cannot be subjected to additional charges. In response to widespread reports of predatory pricing by competing carriers capitalizing on the disruption, the ministry implemented emergency fare caps to prevent price gouging on alternate routes.
Operational recovery shows significant progress, with IndiGo’s flight operations dramatically improving from approximately 700 flights on December 5 to over 1,500 flights by December 6. The airline has established dedicated support cells to facilitate rebooking and refund processing for affected passengers.
Logistical reconciliation efforts include the delivery of over 3,000 pieces of luggage to passengers, with authorities committing to return all misplaced baggage within 48 hours from December 7. A centralized control room remains operational to monitor airport conditions and provide passenger assistance.
‘The aviation network is moving swiftly toward full normalcy, and all corrective measures will remain in place until operations stabilize entirely,’ the ministry stated, emphasizing ongoing monitoring until operations completely stabilize.