As IndiGo’s mass flight cancellations and delays stretched into a third consecutive day, the ripple effect triggered an unexpected frenzy in India’s private aviation sector.
Charter and business jet operators across the country say they are witnessing the highest surge in demand in recent years, with enquiries multiplying at an extraordinary pace; particularly from Hyderabad.
Since December 4, passengers stranded by IndiGo’s operational meltdown, including business executives, families, and frequent travellers, have been turning to private charters as a last-minute escape option.
Pune-based Nibe Aeronautics Limited reported an almost fivefold jump in enquiries within just 48 hours.
“There are literally no aircraft available right now; demand is that overwhelming,” said Sourabh Jangid, the company’s Accountable Manager. “We usually get about 10 enquiries a day. That number has shot up to 50, and Hyderabad alone contributes nearly a quarter of them. Mumbai and Ahmedabad are also seeing heavy activity.”
Actual charter movements have nearly tripled, he added. On a typical day, the company operates 2 to 3 charters, handling 4 to 6 flights.
The disruption has pushed them to fly 6 to 7 charters, amounting to as many as 14 flights a day. All three aircraft in their fleet are operating at full capacity, with additional requests being handled through partner operators.
While corporate travellers remain the largest group seeking charters, families are increasingly turning toward private jets as well. In one case, a Delhi family chartered a flight to Ayodhya after commercial disruptions threatened to derail their pre-scheduled mahurat for a ceremonial visit. Operators also reported emergency requests linked to medical travel.
Delhi-based Arrow Charters noted a similar trend. Managing Director Shailendra Singh said even empty-leg flights, which typically have very low bookings, are now being snapped up instantly.
He said that once availability is shared on social media groups, return flights also get booked within minutes.
Over the last few days, his company has doubled its charter deployments, using both jets and helicopters to meet demand.
The escalation in domestic airfares has further fueled interest in charters. Fares on several routes spiked sharply, with the Hyderabad–Delhi route rising from â¹22,000 to nearly â¹50,000.
Fares between Delhi and Bengaluru climbed from â¹36,000 to over â¹56,000, while Bengaluru–Mumbai tickets touched â¹45,000. A last-minute Air India economy seat from Hyderabad to Bhopal even crossed â¹1 lakh.
Jangid explained that most requests are for “go-now” departures, with passengers desperate to leave immediately.
Some are willing to pay for two to three hours of ferry time just to bring an aircraft from another city like Mumbai so they can reach their destination without delay.
Charter jet prices currently range between â¹2.5 lakh per hour for smaller six-seater aircraft and â¹4 lakh per hour for larger eight-seater jets, excluding handling fees and taxes.
However, the private aviation sector is also facing challenges due to the airline disruptions. Crew mobilisation has become increasingly difficult because commercial flights that staff rely on are delayed or cancelled.
Airport congestion is also a problem, especially at terminals where commercial and business aviation share space.
In Pune, for instance, IndiGo’s grounded aircraft are occupying multiple aprons, leaving no parking space for charter planes.
Senior Captain Balraj Bhullar from a Hyderabad-based charter firm said the surge in demand is likely to continue until airline operations stabilise.
Social media channels are flooded with charter enquiries, and while the option remains expensive, many travellers now prioritise time over cost.
He added that private aviation has natural capacity limits, as most aircraft seat only 6 to 16 passengers, making it challenging to absorb sudden spikes in demand. Costs also rise unexpectedly if jets must be ferried from other cities.
With no clear solution yet to IndiGo’s operational crisis, charter operators expect several more days of intense demand.