New Delhi: India’s competition regulator has begun reviewing antitrust complaints against IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, following widespread flight cancellations earlier this month that disrupted travel plans for thousands of passengers.
The Competition Commission of India has taken note of complaints alleging that IndiGo may have misused its dominant position in the domestic aviation market during the period of large scale cancellations. The regulator is currently conducting a preliminary assessment to decide whether the case warrants a detailed investigation under the Competition Act.
IndiGo, which controls more than half of India’s domestic air travel market, cancelled thousands of flights over several days due to internal operational and scheduling issues. The cancellations led to a sharp rise in airfares on several routes, prompting concerns from passengers and consumer groups. The government later stepped in to impose temporary fare limits to prevent excessive pricing.
One of the complaints before the competition watchdog claims that passengers whose flights were cancelled were forced to rebook tickets at much higher prices, raising questions about unfair practices during a period of disruption. The regulator is examining whether these actions harmed consumers or restricted fair competition.
The airline has said that its operations have now stabilised and that flight schedules have largely returned to normal. IndiGo has maintained that the cancellations were the result of operational challenges and not an attempt to influence ticket prices or market conditions.
At the same time, India’s aviation regulator is also looking into the causes of the disruption, including crew scheduling and planning issues, adding to the scrutiny faced by the airline.
If the competition watchdog finds enough grounds to proceed, it could order a full investigation. Under Indian law, companies found guilty of abusing market dominance can face financial penalties and corrective measures.
For now, the review remains at an early stage, but the case is being closely watched as it could set an important precedent for how dominant players in India’s fast growing aviation sector are regulated in the future.