The central government has sought detailed airfare data from major Indian airlines following widespread flight disruptions in December
The central government has asked major airlines including IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, SpiceJet and Akasa to submit detailed data on airfares charged during December, following widespread flight disruptions that left thousands of passengers stranded across the country, Reuters reports.
The details were requested at the request of the Competition Commission of India so it could analyse airfare patterns during the disruption,
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The move comes even as the Competition Commission of India (CCI) continues to investigate IndiGo over concerns that the airline may have misused its dominant market position during the crisis.
In December 2025, IndiGo faced a severe pilot shortage, which forced the airline to cancel around 4,500 flights. IndiGo currently holds nearly 65% share of India’s domestic aviation market, making the disruptions especially impactful.
The large number of cancellations led to a sharp increase in ticket prices on several routes, triggering complaints from passengers. Following this, the government imposed temporary fare caps on certain routes to prevent unreasonable price hikes.
What data has been asked from airlines
According to a government email dated January 1, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked airlines to submit:
- Average fares charged on each route
- Separate fare details for economy and premium economy seats
- Fare data for the period December 1 to December 15
- Special fare data for routes that were affected by the disruptions
The request was sent to IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, SpiceJet and Akasa.
The CCI had earlier announced that it was proceeding against IndiGo to assess whether the airline had abused its dominant market position. One of the complaints under review accuses IndiGo of cancelling flights and then selling the limited available seats at much higher prices.
A government official, who requested anonymity, said the fare details were sought at the request of the CCI to help understand airfare trends during the disruption period.
There is currently no indication that the investigation is being expanded to include other airlines.
IndiGo has not commented on the investigation so far. Akasa declined to comment, while Air India, Air India Express and SpiceJet did not respond to queries. The DGCA and the CCI have also not officially commented on the email communication.
Published: 07 Jan 2026, 05:56 pm IST
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