New Delhi, November 3, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined an urgent hearing on a plea raising concerns over steep increases in domestic airfares during the 2026 Diwali festive season, with Justice Vikram Nath remarking that passengers could choose not to fly if ticket prices were too high.
The application was mentioned before a Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and Aparesh Kumar Singh. Counsel for the applicant told the court that airfares had reportedly surged by as much as 700 per cent during the festive period and sought urgent intervention, arguing that air travel had become an essential service and excessive fare increases violated Article 14 of the Constitution.
The Bench declined the request, with Justice Nath responding: “Don’t travel by air. Next case.”
The application forms part of a pending public interest litigation challenging alleged opaque and exploitative airline pricing practices, including unpredictable fare fluctuations, sharp last-minute increases and additional charges.
The latest development comes as the court examines concerns over airfare volatility. In an earlier hearing, the Bench had called for rationalisation of fares, pointing to substantial differences in economy-class ticket prices charged by different airlines for flights to the same destination on the same day. It had cited examples of one carrier charging Rs 8,000 while another charged Rs 18,000.
The Centre subsequently informed the court that rules under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, had been finalised to address airfare structures and additional charges. On October 16, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Bench that the rules had received administrative approval and would be published within two weeks. The court directed the government to place the notified rules before it and listed the matter for November 16.
The Centre has since notified the Bharatiya Vayuyan Niyam, 2026, replacing the Aircraft Rules, 1937. The new framework will take effect from January 1, 2027, and requires airlines to disclose the total ticket price along with a breakdown of base fares, taxes, fees, cancellation charges and refund policies. Airline tariffs will continue to remain under the oversight of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
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