The Centre has told the Supreme Court that rules to regulate airfare pricing have been finalised and granted administrative approval, and will be published within two weeks — a significant development in the long-running battle over steep and unpredictable flight ticket prices.
What the Government Promised
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, R. Mahadevan and Aparesh Kumar Singh was hearing a PIL filed by social activist S. Laxminarayanan concerning arbitrary and exorbitant airfare pricing by private airlines. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that the rules had been finalised and administrative approval had been granted for their publication. Taking note of the submission, the court directed that the matter be listed for November 16, by which date the published rules must be placed before it.
Why Flyers Are Angry
The rules have been framed against the backdrop of concerns over sharp and unpredictable increases in airfares, particularly during periods of high demand, and excessive charges imposed on air passengers. The petition raises concerns over algorithm-based dynamic pricing, steep increases in ticket prices at short notice and airline charges affecting passengers — it also questions the reduction of complimentary check-in baggage allowance from 25 kg to 15 kg. The petitioner has sought regulatory intervention to ensure fair and transparent airfare pricing. The pain is felt sharply in regions with limited connectivity, where flyers routinely face punishing fares — Northeast travellers know this frustration well, and the Supreme Court bench itself orally observed, “We’re also victims of the surge in airfares.”
What Happens Next
Earlier, the Centre had placed a draft of the proposed rules before the Supreme Court in a sealed cover. The rules are expected to address the concerns raised in the PIL, including airfare pricing, surge pricing and excess baggage charges. However, what the rules actually contain is not yet public, and the government has not indicated whether they will cap fares, restrict price spikes or only require greater transparency from airlines. With Diwali approaching and new routes expanding in the Northeast, flyers will be watching closely when the rules land.
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