IndiGo Crisis Pushes Domestic Airfares to Absurd Levels: Guwahati–Kolkata Now ₹23,099

As IndiGo’s massive flight cancellation spree enters its second day, domestic airfares have spiralled into the stratosphere, with even short regional routes now costing more than long-haul international flights.

The latest shock: the cheapest available flight from Guwahati to Kolkata — a 1-hour hop that normally costs between ₹2,500 and ₹6,000 — is currently priced at ₹23,099 for the next available date. On several travel portals, the lowest fare displayed for the coming days crosses ₹23,000–₹27,000 one-way, almost ten times the usual amount.

Other eye-watering fares recorded on Friday evening include:

- Delhi–Mumbai one-way: ₹35,000–₹40,000 (normal last-minute ~₹20,000)  
- Delhi–Mumbai round trip: up to ₹60,000  
- Delhi–Hyderabad tomorrow: ₹48,000+ (usual ~₹6,000–₹7,000)  
- Delhi–Kolkata round trip tomorrow: ₹85,000  
- Mumbai–Chennai (with stop): ₹60,000 one-way  
- Mumbai–Srinagar one-way: ₹62,000+; return pushes total above ₹92,000  
- Guwahati–Kolkata: ₹23,099 and rising (normal ₹2,500–₹6,000)

In stark contrast, round-trip tickets from Delhi to London and Paris remain available below ₹50,000–₹60,000 — cheaper than many domestic weekend returns.

With IndiGo grounding 523 flights today alone (and all its Delhi domestic departures till midnight), seats on remaining carriers are vanishing within minutes, causing fares to refresh upward almost in real time.

The airline has blamed the chaos on a miscalculation of pilot and crew requirements after new DGCA Flight Duty Time Limitation rules kicked in, forcing longer mandatory rest periods.

Passengers, many of whom have urgent personal or professional commitments, are left with three grim choices: pay the extortionate fares, cancel plans altogether, or wait indefinitely in hope of normalisation, which IndiGo says may not happen before December 8–10.

For ordinary travellers, what was once India’s most affordable mode of long-distance transport has overnight become prohibitively expensive.

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