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Informist, Monday, Mar. 23, 2026

 

NEW DELHI – The government has told the Supreme Court that it needs further deliberation on unpredictable airfares amid the recent conflict in West Asia. Giving additional time of four weeks to the government to file a reply, the top court said, "There are bigger problems the government is handling at the moment. Many more bigger issues". 

 

Last month, the government had told the Supreme Court that it was discussing the issue of unpredictable airfares and extra charges by airlines at the highest level, and would file a response in four weeks. However, no response was filed by the government yet. The petitioner, social activist S. Laxminarayanan, said there were already two adjournments in the case and he didn't know why the government was not filing a reply, adding that consumers were suffering.

 

Last week, the Centre withdrew airfare caps that were introduced in December to curb a spike in ticket prices after IndiGo's widespread flight cancellations. "The prevailing situation has since stabilised, with restoration of capacity and normalisation of operations across the sector, upon review, it has been decided that the fare cap imposed vide the aforesaid letter shall stand withdrawn with effect from 23rd March, 2026." This came at a time when airlines were hit hard by the conflict in West Asia, leading to an increase in aviation turbine fuel prices, as well as flight cancellations and re-routings that burn more fuel and are costlier.

 

In November, the Supreme Court issued notices to the government, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, and the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India in a public interest litigation filed by Laxminarayanan seeking rules to curb unpredictable airfares and extra charges by airlines. Unchecked and opaque airline practices such as abrupt fare increases, fewer services, inadequate grievance redressal, and unfair algorithm-driven pricing, infringe upon citizens' fundamental rights, the petitioner said. The government cannot remain a mute spectator to the ongoing violation of rights in a country governed by the rule of law, the petitioner said.

 

Inaction by the government in regulating airfare algorithms, cancellation policies, service continuity, and grievance mechanisms constitutes a dereliction of its constitutional duty and calls for urgent judicial intervention, Laxminarayanan said. The petitioner said that air travel was the only fast and practical mode of travel for citizens in remote areas of the country, and airlines were taking advantage of shortages and high demand, which was an unreasonable practice for a necessary service.  End

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Avishek Dutta

 

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