Airfares between the UAE and India have surged sharply—by as much as Dh700—as widespread flight disruptions at IndiGo, India’s largest airline, coincide with one of the busiest travel periods of the year. The spike, which represents roughly 25%, has left passengers scrambling for alternatives and, in many cases, reconsidering or cancelling their travel plans thoroughly.
IndiGo Cancellations Trigger Sudden Fare Increase
IndiGo, which operates the highest number of flights between the UAE and India, is currently facing operational challenges that have resulted in multiple cancellations. These disruptions have created a supply crunch, pushing fares higher across nearly all major UAE airports—including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah.
Industry experts say travellers searching for last-minute tickets have been hit the hardest, with some sectors witnessing increases of several hundred dirhams within hours.
Impact Is Very Significant, Says Cleartrip ME Board Member
Sameer Bagul, Board Member at Cleartrip ME, highlighted the scale of the disruptions:
IndiGo operates over 220 weekly flights to India from the UAE, holding the largest share of passengers on this route. The impact is very significant, disrupting people’s personal and professional lives,” he said.
Bagul added that sudden flight cancellations are forcing travellers to opt for alternative carriers—often at much higher fares—or delay their journeys.
Peak-Season Demand Adds Pressure
With India’s holiday season, school breaks, and winter travel surge coinciding, demand on the UAE–India route was already elevated. The unexpected IndiGo disruptions have intensified pressure on remaining carriers such as Air India, Air India Express, Vistara, and Emirates, whose fares have also risen as a result.
Travel agents across the UAE report:
- Rapid increases in last-minute ticket prices
- Limited seat availability to major Indian cities
- Families postponing or modifying travel plans
- A spike in queries about flexible booking options
- Some travelers have reportedly paid nearly double the usual fare for urgent travel to cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Kochi.
Passengers Left Searching for Alternatives
The sudden route-wide congestion has left thousands of passengers uncertain about their travel timelines. Many are switching to multi-stop or indirect routes through Bahrain, Doha, or Muscat, although these too are filling up quickly.
Travel consultants warn that unless IndiGo stabilises operations soon, high fares and limited availability may continue well into the coming weeks.
Industry Calls for Clear Communication
Travel experts are urging carriers to offer timely updates and flexible rebooking options to minimise disruption for affected passengers, especially those travelling for medical, business, or emergency reasons.
As the situation evolves, travellers are advised to monitor airline updates closely, avoid last-minute bookings where possible, and secure flexible fare options.
