Airfare Pricing Rules Finalised, Centre Tells Supreme Court
The Centre told the Supreme Court on Friday, October 16, that rules on airfare pricing have been finalised and will be published within two weeks. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta made the statement before a three-judge Bench of Justices Vikram Nath, R. Mahadevan and Aparesh Kumar Singh, which is hearing a public interest litigation on sudden spikes in airfares.
What the Centre Told the Court
“The rules have been finalised and the administrative approval to the rules has been granted,” Mehta said. The rules are being framed under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, the law that replaced the Aircraft Act.
The Bench asked the Centre to place the published rules before it on the next date of hearing, November 16. Senior Advocate Ravindra Srivastava questioned the delay in publishing the rules, noting that similar concerns had come up ahead of Diwali this year.
What the Petition Seeks
The petition was filed by social activist S. Laxminarayanan, who has challenged what he called “opaque, exploitative and algorithm-driven” pricing by private airlines. He has sought an independent regulator and guidelines to control fluctuations in fares and extra charges.
The plea also questions the reduction in free check-in baggage for economy passengers from 25 kg to 15 kg. The court had earlier called for rationalisation of fares, noting that two airlines had charged Rs 8,000 and Rs 18,000 for economy seats on the same route on the same day.
Why It Matters for Travellers
Fares often rise sharply during festivals, holidays and emergencies, when families travel home, students return to campuses and patients fly for treatment. Clear rules could help passengers understand how prices are set and what charges they can be asked to pay.
The content of the rules is not yet public, so it is not known whether they will cap fares or only require disclosure. Recent disruptions, such as Air India’s cancellation of Saudi Arabia flights, have also shown how quickly travel plans and costs can change for ordinary flyers.
The rules are expected to be notified before the November 16 hearing, when the court will examine whether they address the concerns raised in the petition. More updates are available in our Daily Updates section.
Based on reporting by The Tribune and Business Standard / PTI.
Image: Business Standard.
