Airtel has removed four prepaid recharge plans from its lineup, giving customers fewer options to choose from.
The telecom company has discontinued the ₹299, ₹579, ₹619 and ₹649 plans across India.
The changes came into effect on August 12, 2026.
While Airtel has not announced a general price hike, some customers may now have to spend more to get similar benefits.
₹299 Plan Replaced by ₹349 Plan
The biggest change is for customers who used Airtel’s ₹299 prepaid plan.
The plan offered 1.5GB daily data, unlimited calling and SMS benefits for 28 days.
With the ₹299 option gone, the ₹349 plan has become the closest alternative for users looking for daily data and unlimited calls.
The new plan costs ₹50 more, which means customers are paying around 16% extra.
However, there is also a benefit.
The ₹349 plan provides 2GB of daily data for 28 days, compared with 1.5GB per day under the old plan.
So, customers get more data, but those who were comfortable with the ₹299 price point will now have to spend more for a similar validity period.
₹579, ₹619 and ₹649 Plans Also Discontinued
Airtel has also removed its ₹579, ₹619 and ₹649 prepaid plans.
These plans were aimed at customers who wanted longer validity without choosing an annual recharge.
Their removal means Airtel customers now have fewer mid-range options when selecting a plan based on their preferred validity and data requirements.
Users who previously relied on these plans will need to choose another option from Airtel’s current recharge portfolio.
Cheaper Airtel Plans Are Still Available
Airtel has not removed all of its affordable prepaid options.
The ₹199 plan continues to offer 2GB total data for 28 days, while the ₹219 plan provides 3GB total data for 28 days.
However, these plans work differently from the discontinued ₹299 pack.
They offer a fixed amount of total data instead of a daily data allowance.
For customers specifically looking for unlimited calls with daily data, the ₹349 plan has now become a more important option.
Is Airtel Increasing Recharge Prices?
The latest changes do not amount to a blanket tariff hike.
Instead, Airtel has removed selected price points and is directing customers towards other plans.
However, for people who regularly used the ₹299 recharge, the impact is clear.
Their closest daily-data option now costs ₹349, meaning they need to spend more on each 28-day recharge.
The move also fits into Airtel’s broader focus on increasing average revenue per user (ARPU) by encouraging customers to choose plans that generate higher revenue.
What Should Airtel Customers Do Now?
If you already have one of the discontinued plans, there is no need to worry immediately.
Your existing recharge will continue to provide its benefits until its current validity expires.
After that, you will need to choose a plan from Airtel’s current lineup.
For users who want daily data and unlimited calling, the ₹349 plan is now the closest replacement for the old ₹299 plan.
Airtel’s latest move shows that the company is gradually reshaping its prepaid portfolio. While it has not introduced a broad tariff hike, some customers could still end up paying more because of the removal of lower-priced options.
