Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Supreme Court to Hear Plea on Unpredictable Airfares
The Supreme Court will hear a case about airline ticket prices in India.
The case asks for rules to make airfares less unpredictable.
It also concerns extra fees that private airlines charge passengers.
The petitioner wants an independent authority to protect air travellers.
He says airlines may be charging hidden fees and very high fares.
He also objects to reducing free economy-class check-in baggage from 25 kilograms to 15 kilograms.
The Centre says it is quickly preparing new aviation rules.
The government gave the court a draft of the rules in a sealed cover.
The court has previously criticised very large fare increases during festivals.
The Supreme Court will hear on September 7 a plea seeking rules to control unpredictable airfares and ancillary charges.
Social activist S Laxminarayanan wants an independent regulator focused on transparency and passenger protection.
The Centre says it has fast-tracked rules under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, and expects to finalise them within three weeks.
The plea alleges that private airlines reduced free economy-class check-in baggage from 25 kg to 15 kg and introduced related restrictions.
The court has called sharp festival-period airfare increases exploitation and asked the Centre to provide relief to passengers.
- Who
- Social activist S Laxminarayanan filed the plea against the Centre and other aviation authorities; Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta are scheduled to hear it.
- What
- The plea seeks regulatory guidelines for unpredictable airfares and ancillary charges, along with an independent passenger-protection regulator.
- When
- The hearing is scheduled for September 7, described as Monday; the articles do not specify the year.
- Where
- The matter is before the Supreme Court of India and concerns private airlines operating in India.
- Why
- The petitioner alleges that existing authorities cannot effectively review or cap airfares and ancillary fees, enabling hidden charges and unpredictable pricing.
Passenger protection concerns
Government regulatory response
Need for fare regulation
Passenger protection concerns
The petitioner argues that unpredictable fares and ancillary charges require stronger, independent oversight because existing authorities cannot effectively review or cap them.
Government regulatory response
The Centre says it is expediting new aviation rules under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, to modernise the sector; the rules were still undergoing final discussions.
Baggage and additional charges
Passenger protection concerns
The plea alleges that airlines reduced free economy-class baggage from 25 kg to 15 kg, allowed only one check-in piece and created additional revenue through charges.
Government regulatory response
The articles do not report a specific response from private airlines; the government’s draft rules are the regulatory response presented to the court.
- Scheduled hearing
- September 7 before Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta
- Petitioner
- Social activist S Laxminarayanan
- Requested regulation
- Guidelines covering airfares, ancillary charges, transparency and passenger protection
- Government action
- The Centre said rules under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, were being fast-tracked
- Expected timeline
- The Centre said the rules would be finalised within three weeks
- Draft rules
- The government placed the draft rules before the court in a sealed cover
- Baggage allegation
- The plea says free economy-class check-in baggage fell from 25 kg to 15 kg
- Earlier court observation
- The Supreme Court described sharp festival-period airfare increases as exploitation and sought relief for flyers
