Questioning the failure to stop airlines from overcharging, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday called out the Centre. This is regarding the recent IndiGo airline crisis where over hundreds of flights were cancelled and fares shot upto Rs 40,000. Justice Gedela questioned, “If there were a crisis, how could other airlines be permitted to take advantage? How can it go from 35,000 to 39,000? How could other airlines start charging? How can it happen?”.
Amidst the IndiGo chaos, many airlines doubled and tripled their fares, passengers who were already suffering due to cancellations at the very last-minute weren’t able to book another flight as the cost was skyrocketing. It was shocking to see how some domestic routes fare was higher than foreign cities. One-way flight from Mumbai and Delhi and vice-versa was as high as Rs 35,000 in the economy category, which was almost double of what is usually charged.
Why Did the Crisis Erupt Despite the Centre’s Measures?
Responding on behalf of Centre the additional solicitor general reiterated the measures taken by the Centre, but Delhi High Court said, “They are all taken by you once the crisis erupted. The question is not this. Why did the situation arise? And what have you been doing?” Another question asked by the court was the reason behind the pilots’ overtime and what steps need to be taken to prevent it.
The additional solicitor general also shared with the court that a show-cause notice was given to IndiGo by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), to which IndiGo responded with a “profuse apology”. However, the court pointed out that such a situation should have never precipitated in the first place. The Court further questioned the Centre, “We have said we appreciate your efforts. However, what bothers us is how such a situation was allowed to precipitate, leaving lakhs of passengers unattended at the airports. Such a situation is not confined to causing inconvenience to the passengers but also affects the economy of the country, as in the present-day fast movement of passengers is an important aspect to keep the economy functioning. What steps were taken to compensate the passengers? What action has been taken to ensure that the employees of service providers behave responsibly?”.
