Govt Cracks Down on Fare Spikes; Air India Capped Fares Since Dec 4

• Air India capped economy-class fares on non-stop domestic flights since December 4 due to IndiGo's crisis.
• The airline clarified that high fares circulating online are for complex, multi-stop itineraries on third-party platforms.
• The Ministry of Civil Aviation mandated fare caps and barred rescheduling fees to curb 'opportunistic pricing' by airlines.
• The government will monitor fare levels in real-time, warning of corrective action for deviations from prescribed norms.
• IndiGo's five-day operational meltdown caused hundreds of flight cancellations and a significant surge in other airlines' fares.

Why It Matters: Government action protects flyers from excessive airfare hikes during crises.