Relief from wild swings in flight ticket prices could be a step closer. The Centre told the Supreme Court on Friday, October 16, that rules to regulate airfare pricing under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024 have been finalised, have received administrative approval and will be published within two weeks. A three-judge bench led by Justice Vikram Nath asked the government to place the published rules before it at the next hearing on November 16.
What the Centre told the court
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Union government, informed the bench, which also includes Justice R Mahadevan and Justice Aparesh Singh, that the rules on airfare pricing were ready. He said they would be notified within two weeks. The court recorded the statement and listed the matter for November 16, by which time the rules are expected to be in the public domain.
Senior Advocate Ravindra Srivastava, appearing for the petitioner, questioned why it had taken so long to frame the rules. He pointed out that the same concerns over fare spikes had surfaced again in the run-up to Diwali this year.
The case behind it
The hearing arose from a public interest litigation filed by activist S. Laxminarayanan, who has challenged what he calls arbitrary and exorbitant fares charged by private airlines. His petition describes airline pricing as opaque, exploitative and algorithm-driven.
Key complaints in the PIL
- Algorithm-based dynamic pricing that pushes fares up sharply at short notice.
- Sudden hikes during emergencies, festivals and peak seasons, which hurt people travelling for medical treatment, studies or jobs.
- The cut in free check-in baggage from 25 kg to 15 kg, which the petitioner says makes passengers pay extra for something that used to be included.
- Lack of an independent regulator to protect passengers from unpredictable fare and ancillary charges.
The petitioner has asked for a robust, independent regulator and clear guidelines to curb unpredictable fluctuations in fares and add-on charges.
How the case has moved so far
Earlier, the court had expressed concern over steep fare increases during festivals and high-demand periods, including the Maha Kumbh, and called for rationalisation of fares. At one hearing, it noted that one airline charged Rs 8,000 and another Rs 18,000 for economy seats on the same route on the same day. On August 17, the Centre submitted a draft of the proposed rules in a sealed cover. The court examined it and returned it, after which the government sought time to finalise the rules.
Case at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Case | S. Laxminarayanan vs Union of India (PIL) |
| Bench | Justices Vikram Nath, R Mahadevan and Aparesh Singh |
| Law | Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024 |
| Centre's statement | Rules finalised and approved; to be published within two weeks |
| Expected to cover | Airfare pricing, surge pricing and excess baggage charges |
| Draft submitted | August 17, in a sealed cover |
| Next hearing | November 16, 2026 |
What it means for flyers
The government has not yet made the contents of the rules public, so it is too early to say whether there will be fare caps, limits on surge pricing or a return to a higher free baggage allowance. Reports on the case indicate the rules are expected to deal with fare pricing, surge pricing and excess baggage charges. What is clear is that, for the first time, airline pricing will be governed by specific rules under the 2024 Act, which replaced the old Aircraft Act of 1934.
For millions of Indians who fly home for festivals, weddings or emergencies, even modest limits on last-minute fare spikes could make a real difference. Airlines, on the other hand, have long argued that dynamic pricing helps them fill seats and keep average fares low. How the rules balance these two interests will be closely watched.
What happens next
If the Centre keeps to its timeline, the rules should be notified by early November. The Supreme Court will then review them at the November 16 hearing, where the petitioner is expected to argue on whether they offer enough protection. Until then, passengers planning travel around Diwali and the wedding season should book early and compare fares, as current pricing practices remain unchanged.
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