New Delhi: Due to IndiGo's widespread flight cancellations throughout India, rates on a number of important domestic routes have skyrocketed to previously unheard-of levels as travelers looked for other options.
There are notable jumps on routes from Delhi to major metropolises and state capitals, with same-day nonstop flights costing up to twice as much as those available for nearby dates, according to statistics from the well-known booking website MakeMyTrip (MMT).
According to MakeMyTrip booking statistics, the cheapest airfare from Delhi to Bengaluru on December 6 costs more than ₹40,000, with some alternatives costing more than ₹80,000.

According to MMT's data, a customer wishing to fly from Delhi to Mumbai on December 6 must pay a minimum of ₹36,107 and a maximum of ₹56,000. The minimal cost for a return trip to the national capital is ₹23,000, while the maximum is more than ₹37,000.
Last-minute rates on the Delhi-Chennai route increased to ₹62,000–82,000.
The lowest ticket for travelers from Delhi to Guwahati was ₹23,998, and the maximum was ₹35,015.
To put this into perspective, a flight from Delhi to Dubai tomorrow, December 6, would cost only ₹25,855, making foreign travel less expensive than traveling between two Indian cities. Similarly, a ticket from Bengaluru to Dubai may be purchased for as little as ₹15,000.

Traveling abroad is far less expensive than traveling domestically when compared to these prices. The cost of a flight from Delhi to Bangkok is approximately ₹18,747.
The interruption came after IndiGo experienced severe operational setbacks that resulted in over 500 flights being cancelled or delayed nationwide, overcrowding airports and stranding customers.
While other airlines carried on with their regular operations, all IndiGo departures from Delhi Airport were canceled until midnight.

Travel platforms indicate that fares are anticipated to return to normal in the upcoming days as IndiGo works to stabilize operations, as evidenced by the noticeably lower prices shown for Delhi routes from December 9–12.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted IndiGo a one-time temporary exemption from two regulations regarding late duty and late night operations until February 10, 2026, in an effort to stabilize flight operations and lessen customer interruptions.
Many passengers were left stuck with no clear communication or other travel options due to operational breakdown, which caused them to express intense dissatisfaction at several airports. They said that many people had been left detained at airports for hours without adequate communication, food, or water due to disruptions caused by personnel shortages and stricter regulations for crew members.

"We do deeply apologize and understand how difficult the past few days have been for many of you," IndiGo said in an apology. We promise to do all within our power to assist you in the interim and return our operations to normal as soon as possible, even if this will not be resolved overnight." (ANI)