IndiGo and Air India Receive Reprieve as Competition Commission of India Dismisses Complaint over Ticket Cancellations and Market Dominance Claims

Competition Commission of India Dismisses Complaint Against InterGlobe Aviation and Air India

Key Findings

• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has dismissed a complaint alleging that InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo) and Air India were abusing their dominant market positions.
• The complaint, which accused domestic airlines of charging "unconscionable" and illegal ticket cancellation fees, was found to have no prima facie evidence of competition law violations.

Market Share and Dominance

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• InterGlobe Aviation, operator of low-budget carrier IndiGo, holds more than 65% share in the domestic aviation sector.
• Air India accounts for around 27% market share, resulting in the two players controlling nearly 90% of the market.

Reasons for Dismissal

• The CCI found that both airlines maintain transparent refund systems and disclose their terms to passengers in advance.
• Passengers can opt for substantially refundable tickets, and the refund and cancellation terms are disclosed to each and every consumer in a non-discriminatory manner.

Order and Rejections

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• The CCI rejected a plea seeking a joint investigation with another ongoing case related to mass flight cancellations by IndiGo in December 2025.
• The regulator found that the allegations and issues involved in the two cases were entirely different, warranting separate proceedings.

InterGlobe Aviation Leadership Change

• InterGlobe Aviation's chief, Pieter Elbers, has resigned on personal grounds, effective immediately.
• Rahul Bhatia, founder and managing director, has stepped in as interim boss.