SC to hear arbitrary airfare issue today:Govt earlier claimed to solve issue within 3 weeks; matter pending since Nov last year

The Supreme Court will hear on Monday the issue of arbitrary increases in airfares and extra charges imposed by private airlines. The case is listed before a bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta. The central government had said on August 17 that the new rules would be finalized within three weeks. During the hearing, the court had said, “Publish them within seven days. If the airlines are not complying, ground them.” The matter reached the Supreme Court in November last year, 2025, when a petition was filed regarding issues such as fare hikes and hidden charges.
Petition raises 4 issues, including baggage and additional charges The petition was filed last November by social activist S. Lakshminarayanan. He has called for the establishment of a strong and independent regulatory authority to ensure transparency and passenger safety across the civil aviation sector. The petition also seeks guidelines to regulate fluctuations in airfares and additional charges imposed by private airlines in India.
Understand the entire matter through 5 questions and answers 1. Question: Why do air tickets become expensive during festivals? Answer: The main reason is dynamic pricing. When demand increases, cheaper seats are sold quickly, and the remaining seats move into more expensive categories. 2. Question: Can airlines increase fares arbitrarily? Answer: Airlines change fares based on demand and the availability of seats. Under the current system, the government generally does not set a maximum fare for every ticket. This system has been questioned in the Supreme Court. 3. Question: Can airlines increase fares arbitrarily? Answer: On regular market-based flights, fares change based on demand and availability. However, airlines must comply with applicable regulations. The DGCA monitors fares. Under certain government schemes, such as UDAN, maximum fares are fixed. 4. Question: Why do different passengers pay different fares on the same flight? Answer: Seats are available in different fare categories. Therefore, passengers booking at different times may pay different fares on the same flight. 5. Question: What charges may apply in addition to the ticket price? Answer: Additional charges may apply for excess baggage, preferred seats, meals, and certain other optional services. Applicable charges may also be levied for changing or canceling a ticket. The amount and terms depend on the airline. Major Previous Hearings in the Supreme Court on Airfares