In a significant move to assist passengers facing travel uncertainty, Air India, under the Tata Group, has announced a special relief measure. This comes just five days after widespread flight cancellations by another carrier, IndiGo, caused major disruptions across the country's aviation network.
Details of the Special Travel Waiver
The airline has introduced a one-time waiver on change and cancellation fees for eligible domestic bookings. Passengers who booked tickets on Air India or its subsidiary Air India Express on or before December 4 for travel up to December 15 can avail this benefit. The crucial condition is that the change or cancellation request must be made by December 8, 2025.
Under this waiver, travellers have two clear options. They can either reschedule their journey to a later date within the validity period of their original ticket without incurring any rescheduling charges. Alternatively, they can choose to cancel their booking entirely and receive a full refund, with no cancellation fee deducted. The airline clarified that in cases of rescheduling, any applicable fare difference will still need to be paid by the passenger.
Proactive Steps to Curb Fare Spikes
In a parallel and proactive initiative, Air India stated that it, along with Air India Express, has capped economy-class airfares on all non-stop domestic routes from December 4. This decisive action aims to prevent sudden and sharp price increases that are often triggered by automated demand-supply algorithms used by airlines, especially during periods of reduced capacity and high demand.
The move to control fares is a direct response to protect consumers from potential exploitation following the recent industry disruption. Both carriers are also actively working to ensure full compliance with the latest directives on airfare caps issued by the Civil Aviation Ministry, underscoring their commitment to regulatory adherence and passenger welfare.
Context and Impact on Travellers
The relief package from the Tata Group airlines arrives at a critical time for Indian aviation. The earlier cancellations by a major player like IndiGo left thousands of passengers stranded or facing last-minute rebooking at exorbitant prices. By introducing both a fee waiver and a fare cap, Air India is positioning itself as a customer-centric alternative, seeking to stabilise the market and build trust.
This combined strategy of financial relief and price control is expected to offer much-needed respite to affected travellers, providing them with flexibility and cost certainty during a volatile period. It highlights the competitive dynamics in the Indian aviation sector, where airlines are increasingly leveraging service reliability and customer care as key differentiators.
