Airlines Freed From Price Limits

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has withdrawn fare caps introduced during IndiGo's flight disruptions last December, effective Monday, citing stabilisation of operations and restored capacity, officials said on Saturday. The move follows airlines' appeals amid rising operating costs linked to the West Asia conflict. The caps, which limited fares to `7,500 for routes up to 500 km, `12,000 for 500-1,000 km, `15,000 for 1,000-1,500 km, and `18,000 for longer sectors, were imposed after large-scale IndiGo cancellations led to steep price surges. Business-class tickets and flights under the regional UDAN scheme were exempt. The ministry said airlines must continue to maintain discipline in fare-setting, ensuring prices remain reasonable, and transparent.