New Delhi, August 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that new rules governing airlines, including provisions relating to airfares, surge pricing and excess baggage charges, will be finalised within three weeks.
The assurance came during a hearing on a plea seeking tighter regulation of airline ticket prices and protection of passengers against arbitrary and steep fare increases.
The government said the process of framing the rules under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam had been expedited. In the interim, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has been issuing office memoranda to airlines regarding pricing.
The submission followed the Supreme Court’s concern over alleged non-compliance by airlines with government directions on airfares. When the court was informed through a petition filed by social activist S Laxminarayanan that airlines were disregarding such directions, it said the government should “ground” carriers that failed to comply.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on September 7.
The Supreme Court had last month directed the Centre to place before it the rules framed under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, which came into force in January 2025. The court also ordered that the rules be submitted in a sealed cover, even if they had not yet been placed before Parliament.
The court has been examining airline pricing for several months. In January, it said it would look into “unpredictable fluctuations” in airfares, particularly sharp increases during festive periods. It had termed excessive fare hikes as exploitation and sought responses from the Centre and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
During a hearing on May 15, the court called for rationalisation of airfares and asked the Centre to provide relief to air passengers.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, had earlier informed the bench that the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, became effective in January 2025 and that the rules required under the new law were being prepared.
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