India removes domestic airfare caps from March 23: Why ticket prices could spike as war costs rise

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has officially removed all domestic airfare caps effective March 23, 2026, ending a three-month price-control regime. This policy shift restores full pricing flexibility to airlines as they grapple with surging fuel costs and operational rerouting caused by the ongoing West Asia conflict. While the government warns carriers to maintain "pricing discipline," the deregulation clears the way for market-driven ticket prices across all domestic routes.