India's two leading airlines, IndiGo and Air India, have introduced new base-level fare options aimed at making air travel more affordable for passengers. Airfares had become more expensive over the past four months following the West Asia crisis due to higher operating costs.
India's leading airline IndiGo has launched a new low-cost fare option, 'IndiGo Lite', for passengers. The new fare category is designed specifically for travellers who fly only with cabin baggage and do not require additional services such as checked baggage or in-flight meals. Under this fare option, passengers on domestic flights can save between ₹300 and ₹400 per ticket.
The move comes at a time when the global aviation industry is facing pressure from rising operating costs, fuel prices and geopolitical conditions. Airlines are increasingly offering passengers the flexibility to select services based on their individual travel needs to provide a more affordable travel experience.
IndiGo said the 'IndiGo Lite' fare will be available for journeys beginning July 15. At present, bookings under this category can be made only through the airline's official website and mobile app. The fare will be available for one-way, round-trip and multi-city bookings on domestic and international non-stop flights. It will also apply to tickets for both adults and children.
The 'IndiGo Lite' fare is intended for passengers travelling with up to 7 kg of cabin baggage and who do not require checked baggage. According to the airline, the model is designed to allow passengers to pay only for the services they actually use. This is expected to reduce overall travel costs and provide greater flexibility in choosing tickets according to individual budgets.
Although checked baggage and meals are not included in the 'IndiGo Lite' fare, passengers will have the option to add these services later if required. After booking and before flight departure, passengers can purchase checked baggage, meals and other services by paying additional charges.
Before IndiGo's announcement, Air India had also introduced a new 'Basic' fare category for domestic passengers. The fare is intended for travellers who do not wish to have meals during the flight.
Under Air India's new Basic fare, passengers receive 15 kg of checked baggage, 7 kg of cabin baggage and complimentary beverages such as tea or coffee. Since meals are not included, passengers can save approximately ₹300 to ₹700 on ticket prices.
Several airlines worldwide have adopted the 'unbundled fare' model in recent years. Under this model, the base ticket price is kept lower, while additional services such as checked baggage, meals, seat selection and priority boarding are charged separately.
