Stop flights if airlines don't follow rules: Supreme Court on soaring fares

Hearing a plea challenging the alleged arbitrary fixing of airfares by private airlines, the Supreme Court observed that if airlines were not complying with the rules, their flights could be stopped.The SC questioned the unchecked rise in airfares during peak travel periodsThe Supreme Court on Monday questioned the unchecked rise in airfares during peak travel periods and indicated that airlines could face stringent action if they fail to comply with regulatory norms.Hearing a plea challenging the alleged arbitrary fixing of airfares by private airlines, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta observed that if airlines were not complying with the rules, their flights could be stopped.The plea filed by social activist S Lakshmi Narayanan, who claimed that private airlines were fixing fares randomly, particularly during periods of high demand.The court's remarks came as the Centre informed it that the process of framing a regulatory mechanism for airfares was in its final stages. Additional Solicitor General Anil Kaushik told the bench that the government would complete the exercise within three weeks and place the final rules before the court.The Centre also handed over a draft of the proposed rules to the court in a sealed cover. The petitioner argued that airlines were charging passengers exorbitant fares during festivals and holidays and alleged that even the government's existing official memorandum was not being followed.The petitioner also referred to a statement made by the Civil Aviation Minister in Parliament that the government could not impose a cap on airfares.During a hearing in May, the Supreme Court observed that there should be some rationalisation of airfares and asked the Centre to provide relief to passengers.It noted that airlines often charge significantly different fares for the same route on the same day, raising concerns over the lack of pricing consistency.Meanwhile, the plea has also sought a dedicated regulatory mechanism to lay down clear rules for fixing airfares and ensure compliance by airlines.The Centre sought three weeks to complete the rule-making process, which the court accepted.The matter will next be heard on September 7.- EndsPublished By: Karishma Saurabh KalitaPublished On: Aug 17, 2026 14:35 IST