The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain an urgent hearing request concerning a petition that alleged an almost 700 per cent surge in domestic airfares.
During the mention before a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and Aparesh Kumar Singh, an advocate highlighted the sharp increase in airline ticket prices and sought an urgent listing of the matter.
Responding to the submission, the bench made a pointed remark, saying, “Don't travel by air.” The advocate, however, argued that air travel has become an essential service and that such steep fare increases raise serious questions under Article 14 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law.
The issue of unreasonable airfare fluctuations is already under consideration by the apex court in a separate petition filed by social activist S. Laxminarayanan. The petition calls for an independent and effective regulatory mechanism to ensure transparency, safeguard passengers' interests and prevent arbitrary changes in airfares and additional charges imposed by private airlines.
Earlier, during the October 16 hearing, the Centre informed the court that administrative approval had been granted to the rules under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, which seeks to strengthen the regulatory framework governing India's aviation sector.
The Supreme Court had subsequently directed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to place the notified rules before it at the next hearing scheduled for November 16.
The court had previously expressed concern over excessive and unpredictable airfare hikes, particularly during festive seasons. In an earlier hearing in January, it described steep fare increases by airlines as a form of passenger exploitation and sought responses from the Centre and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The continuing proceedings have brought renewed attention to the need for greater transparency, accountability and effective regulation of airline ticket pricing in India.
