Govt Fixes Max Flight Fares Nationwide Amid Airline Price Hikes

• Government (MOCA) imposed maximum fare limits on all domestic flight routes to curb exorbitant pricing by airlines.
• New maximum fares: Rs 7,500 for flights up to 500 km, Rs 12,000 for 500-1000 km, Rs 15,000 for 1000-1500 km, and Rs 18,000 for over 1500 km.
• Airlines must now offer tickets in all fare categories and cannot immediately raise prices after flight cancellations.
• The fare caps apply to economy class tickets and exclude additional charges like UDF, PSF, and taxes.
• This intervention follows widespread complaints about airlines exploiting flight cancellations and delays, exemplified by recent IndiGo operational issues.

Why It Matters: Airfare caps protect travelers from airlines' arbitrary price hikes.