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The Supreme Court connected Monday (January 19, 2026) said that unpredictable fluctuations successful airfares were “exploitative” and flagged the exorbitant surge successful summons prices during festivals and highest question periods.
A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta was proceeding a nationalist involvement litigation (PIL) petition seeking binding regulatory guidelines to curb erratic airfare pricing and ancillary charges levied by backstage airlines.
Indicating that the tribunal would intervene, Justice Mehta pointed to crisp fare hikes during spiritual gatherings and festivals. “We volition decidedly interfere. Just spot the exploitation of passengers during the Kumbh and different festivals. Look astatine the fares from Delhi to Prayagraj and Jodhpur — they are 3 times the mean fare,” helium told Additional Solicitor General Anil Kaushik, who appeared for the Centre.
Earlier, connected November 17 past year, the Bench had sought responses from the Union government, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) connected the plea filed by societal activistic S. Laxminarayanan. The petition seeks the instauration of a robust and autarkic regulatory mechanics to guarantee transparency successful airfare pricing and fortify rider extortion crossed the civilian aviation sector.
On Monday (January 19, 2026), Additional Solicitor General Anil Kaushik sought further clip to record a effect connected behalf of the Centre. Acceding to the request, the Bench posted the substance for further proceeding connected February 23.
In a lighter vein, Justice Mehta besides told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was contiguous successful the courtroom, that portion airfares to Ahmedabad appeared stable, fares to destinations specified arsenic Jodhpur had surged. “Mr. Mehta someway ensures that formation fares are not truthful precocious for Ahmedabad,” helium remarked.
The petition said that opaque hose practices, specified arsenic abrupt fare escalations, reduced formation services, inadequate grievance redressal mechanisms, and algorithm-driven pricing, infringe upon citizens’ cardinal rights to equality, state of question and a beingness with dignity.
“In a law republic governed by the regularisation of law, the State cannot stay a mute spectator to this ongoing usurpation of rights. Inaction by the State successful regulating fare algorithms, cancellation policies, work continuity, and grievance mechanisms constitutes a dereliction of its law work and calls for urgent judicial intervention”, the plea said.
The plea besides pointed retired that determination is presently nary regulatory authorization vested with the powerfulness to reappraisal oregon headdress airfares oregon ancillary charges, enabling airlines to exploit consumers done hidden fees and unpredictable pricing. It said specified practices disproportionately impact economically weaker passengers, who are often compelled to acquisition tickets during periods of highest surge pricing, portion wealthier travellers tin program and publication successful advance.
The tribunal was further apprised that specified continued State inaction successful regulating fare algorithms, cancellation policies, work continuity, and grievance redressal mechanisms amounts to a dereliction of law work and warrants urgent judicial intervention. The plea further said that the close to dignity encompasses entree to indispensable services, including exigency transportation, connected just and non-exploitative terms.
“Arbitrary fare hikes during emergencies contradict susceptible citizens this right, particularly erstwhile they are compelled to take aerial question retired of necessity alternatively than luxury,” the plea added.
