Centre finalises airfare rules for Supreme Court review
Passengers may gain clearer protection from sudden fare increases.
Overview
Air passengers may soon get clearer protection from sudden, steep fare increases. The issue began with a November 2025 over unpredictable ticket prices and extra charges, including excess baggage fees. The Supreme Court later questioned the Centre and the after festival fares rose sharply. It also discussed strict action, including grounding airlines that ignore its directions.
On October 16, the Centre told the Court that rules under the , had received approval and would be published within two weeks. The law took effect in January 2025. The Court wants to see the rules by November 16. Until then, it is unclear whether they will cap fares, review unusually large increases, require clearer price information, control extra charges or set penalties. The rules could help during festivals, emergencies and other busy periods, but tighter controls may reduce airlines’ freedom to set prices.
Timeline
Supreme Court to review published rules
The Supreme Court scheduled the next hearing for November 16 and directed the Centre to place the published rules before the . The hearing is expected to establish what protections passengers receive during festivals, emergencies and other high-demand periods, and how the Centre, and airlines must enforce them.
Publication promised within two weeks
The government said the final rules would be published within two weeks. The Supreme Court directed that the rules be placed before it by the next hearing, making the Centre responsible for presenting the completed framework for .
Centre says rules are finalised
The Centre told the Supreme Court that rules under the , had been finalised and received . The final text was not yet publicly available, so provisions on fare caps, exceptional increases, disclosures, ancillary charges and penalties remained unconfirmed.
Draft rules placed before Court
The Centre placed a draft of the proposed rules before the Supreme Court in a . Reports said the draft was expected to address airfare pricing, and , but its exact provisions remained unavailable publicly.
Court warns of grounding airlines that violate fare directions
At an August 17 hearing, the Supreme Court said airlines that failed to comply with applicable could face , while the Centre said would be completed within three weeks.
Centre reports draft rules in preparation
The Centre told the Court that under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam were ready and undergoing final administrative work, including translation. The government had not yet publicly established whether the framework would cap fares, require or impose new .
Court flags festival fare spikes
During a January hearing, the Supreme Court raised concerns about steep and unpredictable fare increases during festivals. It pressed the Centre and the to address and respond to the pricing concerns raised in the PIL.
Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam takes effect
The , came into force in January 2025, replacing the . The law provides the for the Centre to frame new , including the framework now being examined by the Court.
Supreme Court seeks government responses
The Supreme Court sought responses from the Centre and relevant aviation authorities on the petition. The case moved beyond individual passenger complaints to questions about nationwide , and regulation of private airlines.
PIL challenges unpredictable airfares
Social activist S. Laxminarayanan filed a seeking binding safeguards against arbitrary and exorbitant fares charged by private airlines. The petition cited sudden fare fluctuations and , including excess baggage fees, and called for stronger .