Airfare regulation rules to be published within 2 weeks, Govt tells SC

The Central Government on Friday informed the Supreme Court that rules to regulate airfare pricing have been finalised and the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024 received administrative approval, and would be published within two weeks. A bench of Justice Vikram Nath, Justice R. Mahadevan and Justice Aparesh Singh was hearing a PIL concerning arbitrary and exorbitant airfare pricing by private airlines. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Court that the rules had been finalised and administrative approval had been granted for their publication.  
Taking note of the submission, the Court directed that the matter be listed on 16th of November, by which date the published rules must be placed before it. The proposed rules aim to address concerns over steep and unpredictable airfare hikes, dynamic pricing and excessive passenger charges, including baggage fees. The petitioner has sought fair and transparent airfare pricing, particularly during festivals and periods of high demand.
The bench has been hearing the matter since January, when the judges called festive fare surges "exploitative". It noted that no authority currently has the power to cap or review airfares. In May, the Court said fares must be rationalised. In July, the Centre said the draft rules were ready, and the Court asked for them to be submitted in a sealed cover. In August, the Court told the Centre to ground airlines that do not comply with fare norms. The Ministry told the Court that airlines had been issued office memorandums on pricing but were not following them. The draft rules cover airfares, surge pricing and excess baggage charges.