Supreme Court Urges Centre To Rationalise Airfares, Seeks Relief For Flyers

The Supreme Court on Friday called for greater rationalisation of airline ticket prices and urged the Union government to consider measures that could provide relief to air travellers facing wide and unpredictable fare variations across carriers operating in the same routes.

The observations were made by a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta while hearing a petition that raised concerns over alleged arbitrary pricing practices in the civil aviation sector. The court noted that passengers often face significant discrepancies in fares charged by different airlines for identical routes on the same day, highlighting concerns over fairness and consistency in pricing.

During the hearing, the bench pointed out that such disparities appeared difficult for ordinary passengers to justify, observing that one airline may charge around ₹8,000 for an economy ticket while another carrier on the same route could demand as much as ₹18,000. The court emphasised the need for “some rationalisation” of airfares and suggested that the Centre examine ways to address the issue in the interest of consumers.

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Appearing for the Union government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that the administration was aware of the concerns and was treating the matter in a non-adversarial manner. He further stated that a new legislative framework introduced in 2024 had already come into effect, and the corresponding rules were currently under consultation. The government, he said, was considering all aspects before finalising the regulatory approach.

The petition was filed by social activist S Laxminarayanan, who has sought the creation of an independent and robust aviation regulator with powers to ensure transparency and safeguard passenger interests. The plea argues that existing regulatory mechanisms are inadequate to control “unpredictable fluctuations” in airfares and ancillary charges imposed by private airlines, often leaving consumers vulnerable to opaque pricing systems and sudden fare hikes, particularly during peak travel seasons and disruptions.

Senior advocate Ravindra Srivastava, appearing for the petitioner, argued that while provisions under the Aircraft Act of 1937 already exist, they are not being effectively enforced. He contended that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has the authority to intervene in cases of excessive or predatory pricing but has not been issuing necessary directions. The government, however, maintained that existing rules are being reviewed and updated under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, which came into effect in January 2025.

The case highlights ongoing concerns over dynamic pricing practices in India’s aviation sector, with the petition also alleging that lack of effective regulation enables airlines to impose arbitrary fare hikes, restrict services, and use opaque pricing algorithms. The Supreme Court’s remarks signal judicial attention to consumer protection in air travel, while leaving regulatory policy decisions to the executive’s ongoing legislative and rule-making process.

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