India’s Major Airlines Air India And Air India Express Introduce Game-Changing Measures To Support Passengers With Capped Fares, Free Upgrades, And Waived Fees Amid Travel Surge

Published on December 8, 2025

Air India and Air India Express have launched a series of proactive measures to ease the growing disruptions in air travel due to high demand. By capping fares, offering additional flights, providing free upgrades, and waiving fees for changes or cancellations, the airlines aim to ensure smoother and more affordable travel experiences for passengers. These efforts are in response to the surge in bookings, helping to maintain customer satisfaction and alleviate the strain on travelers during peak travel periods.

Amid widespread disruptions affecting air travel in India this week, Air India and Air India Express have introduced a series of measures aimed at reducing passenger inconvenience. These measures, announced on Saturday, include capped fares, fee waivers, additional flights, and temporary upgrades, all intended to address the challenges posed by the surge in demand.

The airlines have been actively intervening since December 4, starting with the capping of economy-class fares on all non-stop domestic routes. This move aims to prevent automated revenue systems from pushing ticket prices higher during a period of high demand. The initiative comes in response to an increase in air travel bookings across India, which led to a spike in fares, creating challenges for many passengers.

In line with the directive from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) issued on December 6, Air India and Air India Express have started implementing capped base fares across their systems. The airlines confirmed that while Air India Express has already fully transitioned to the new pricing system, Air India is rolling out the fare caps progressively. The phased implementation will be completed shortly, ensuring that all bookings reflect the new fare structure without causing disruptions to existing reservations.

The phased approach is necessary due to the technical dependencies involved in updating third-party systems. This careful rollout ensures the changes are accurately applied without affecting the integrity of customer bookings. The airlines emphasized that the changes are being made with minimal impact on passengers’ ongoing flight arrangements.

Additionally, both airlines have introduced a special one-time waiver for change and cancellation fees. This waiver applies to passengers who booked tickets on or before December 4 for travel up to December 15. Passengers can now reschedule their flights without incurring rebooking charges or opt for a full refund without any cancellation fees, as long as the changes are made by December 8. However, any fare differences will still apply when rescheduling.

To assist passengers with these changes, Air India and Air India Express have increased the capacity of their customer support teams. The airlines have set up additional staff at their helplines to manage the surge in call volumes.

In an effort to further ease the strain on travelers, the airlines are maximising seat availability by operating additional flights on key domestic routes. Additionally, eligible economy-class passengers will be temporarily upgraded to higher cabins at no additional charge to ensure that every seat is utilized to accommodate stranded passengers.

Recognizing the need for special support, both carriers are also offering discounted fares and benefits to specific groups, including students, senior citizens, armed forces personnel, and their dependents. These discounts will be available through the airlines’ official websites and mobile apps, providing an additional incentive for eligible travelers to book their flights directly with the airlines.

Overall, these measures are designed to address the immediate challenges posed by the surge in demand, while maintaining a high level of customer service. Air India and Air India Express are taking steps to ensure that passengers are able to travel with minimal disruptions and are supported with the flexibility needed during this busy period. With additional flights, capped fares, and a focus on customer convenience, both airlines are working diligently to make air travel more accessible and hassle-free for everyone.