IndiGo turmoil sends Bhubaneswar airfares swinging wildly across domestic routes

Airfares from Bhubaneswar have entered a period of severe volatility this December, with unusually wide price ranges recorded across key domestic and international routes.

Fresh data for December 2025 shows sharp fluctuations on one-way, nonstop flights from the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA), signalling a disrupted market ahead of the year-end travel rush.

The instability coincides with the ongoing operational crisis at IndiGo, which has triggered mass cancellations and intensified pressure on available capacity. With several routes affected and passenger demand remaining seasonally high, fares on competing carriers have escalated or dropped unpredictably, contributing to some of the steepest swings seen this year.

According to current listings, Bhubaneswar–New Delhi tickets range from Rs 13,100 to Rs 6,760, Mumbai from Rs 10,300 to Rs 8,800, Bengaluru from Rs 10,400 to Rs 6,800, Kolkata from Rs 8,900 to Rs 5,650, Chennai from Rs 8,900 to Rs 6,170, and Hyderabad from Rs 8,800 to Rs 4,500.

Fares to Ahmedabad stand at Rs 16,700 to Rs 8,010, Varanasi at Rs 13,700 to Rs 8,690, Visakhapatnam at Rs 9,010 to Rs 3,300, and Dehradun at Rs 13,200 to Rs 7,500.

ALSO READ: IndiGo crisis continues at Bhubaneswar airport: 8 flights cancelled, steep year-end fares compound woes

International sectors from BBI have also shown a broad spread, with Singapore priced at Rs 11,600 to Rs 51,200, Bangkok at Rs 11,800 to Rs 17,900, and Dubai/Abu Dhabi at Rs 29,400 to Rs 19,200. The price variation reflects a market destabilised by ongoing large-scale disruptions involving IndiGo.

Centre Deploys Oversight Team

Amid nationwide complaints of cancellations, long queues, and baggage delays triggered by IndiGo’s December 2 disruptions, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has constituted an oversight team to monitor the airline’s operations.

According to The Times of India, the DGCA’s December 10 order states that the group includes senior officials and flight operations inspectors.

Two members will be stationed daily at IndiGo’s corporate office in Gurgaon to track parameters such as total fleet, crew availability, standby strength, training status, split duty patterns, and unplanned leave.

ALSO READ: IndiGo crisis: Indian Railways adds 116 extra coaches to 37 trains, including Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani

Both teams must submit daily reports by 6 pm to the Joint Director General. The DGCA has also issued show-cause notices to the airline’s top executives, and the Civil Aviation Ministry has ordered fare caps and flight curtailment to stabilise operations.