The Supreme Court of India on Friday urged the central government to take steps toward rationalizing airfares, highlighting significant pricing disparities between airlines on the same routes. The intervention comes amid ongoing concerns over unregulated ticket pricing, particularly during peak travel times.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta expressed concern over the sharp variations in economy class ticket prices. “Try to give some relief to the people because of the discrepancy,” the bench directed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre. The court noted an example where flights to the same sector on the same day could cost ₹8,000 on one airline and ₹18,000 on another.
Justice Mehta emphasized the need for “some rationalisation” of airfares. Solicitor General Mehta acknowledged the issue, stating the government is treating it as non-adversarial and is currently considering all aspects. He informed the court that new rules are being formulated under the recently enacted Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam of 2024, which came into effect in January 2025.
The court’s remarks were made during the hearing of a petition filed by social activist S. Laxminarayanan. The plea calls for the establishment of a robust, independent regulator to oversee the civil aviation sector, seeking guidelines to control “unpredictable fluctuations” in both airfares and ancillary charges levied by private carriers.
Senior Advocate Ravindra Srivastava, representing Laxminarayanan, argued that while rules exist under the older Aircraft Act of 1937 empowering the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to intervene against predatory or excessive pricing, these powers remain unexercised. “The rules are there, the power is there, but it is a case of non-exercise of powers,” Srivastava submitted, urging action while the new rules are finalized.
The bench directed the petitioner to respond to the Centre’s counter-affidavit and scheduled the next hearing for July 13.
The Supreme Court has increasingly scrutinized airline pricing practices. In January, the court indicated a willingness to intervene against “unpredictable fluctuations,” specifically flagging exorbitant price surges during festivals, which it termed “exploitation.” In April, the court reprimanded the Centre for delays in filing its affidavit on the matter.
Laxminarayanan’s petition highlights several alleged consumer grievances, arguing that airlines exploit consumers through unpredictable pricing algorithms and hidden charges. The plea criticizes the reduction of free check-in baggage allowances from 25 kg to 15 kg without corresponding ticket rebates, calling it an arbitrary conversion of a standard service into a revenue stream.
Furthermore, the petition asserts that the current lack of regulatory oversight allows airlines to engage in “unregulated, opaque, and exploitative conduct,” including arbitrary fare hikes during weather disruptions or holidays, disproportionately impacting vulnerable and last-minute travelers. The plea argues this inaction infringes upon fundamental rights and requires urgent judicial intervention.
