IndiGo, India's largest airline, is set to cut 400 to 500 flights during the busy travel season. This move will reduce travel choices and increase ticket prices. In October, IndiGo carried nearly 92 lakh passengers, making up 65% of all air travelers in India. Cutting flights by up to 500 daily means around 65,000 to 81,000 passengers will lose their seats. Many planned these trips weeks ago. Travel expert Aloke Bajpai of booking site ixigo said, "In the middle of the high season for travel, just before the Christmas-New Year break, it is unfortunate that we have a situation where there will be a capacity shortfall on demand, resulting in a further increase in airfares." Other airlines like Air India, Akasa, and SpiceJet are also short of planes due to post-COVID delays and cannot quickly fill the gap. IndiGo runs the only flights on 20 to 25 routes including cities like Allahabad and Kanpur, so passengers there may have no air options. Booking last-minute tickets is getting very costly despite government fare caps. Refunds for cancelled tickets will be given, but taxes and fees are non-refundable. India’s compensation rules are weak; they offer little protection or pay for affected travelers. The airline says it has refunded ₹829 crore but does not mention extra compensation. Compared to the EU's strict rules, Indian passengers get less help for cancellations or delays. With demand high and fewer flights, travelers face tricky choices ahead.