Sri Vijaya Puram, May 15: The Supreme Court of India on Friday orally observed that there should be some “rationalisation” in airfares charged by private airlines while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking regulation of fluctuating ticket prices during holidays and festive seasons, an issue that carries significant implications for tourism and connectivity in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
A Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta remarked that large differences in ticket prices for the same destination on the same day raise concerns over fare regulation and affordability.
“Try to give some relief to people. On the same day, flights to the same destination, one airline charges Rs 8,000 while another charges Rs 18,000 in economy class. There has to be some rationalisation,” the Bench orally observed while hearing the matter.
The issue is particularly relevant for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where air travel remains the primary mode of fast connectivity with mainland India. Sudden airfare spikes during holidays, tourist seasons and emergency situations have long remained a major concern for island residents, students, patients and the tourism industry.
Tourism stakeholders in the islands have repeatedly highlighted how unpredictable airline pricing often discourages tourists from visiting the Andaman and Nicobar Islands during peak travel seasons. In many cases, airfare costs reportedly become comparable to or even exceed international travel packages, affecting tourist inflow and hospitality businesses.
The Bench was hearing submissions in a PIL filed by social activist S. Laxminarayanan challenging alleged “opaque, exploitative and algorithm-driven” airfare pricing practices in the civil aviation sector. The petition also questioned reductions in complimentary baggage allowances offered by airlines.
Appearing for the Centre and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that rules under the newly enacted Bhartiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024 were currently being framed and consultations were underway.
“There’s a new Act that has come into force. The rules are in the process of consultation. We will consider all the aspects,” the Solicitor General submitted before the court.
He further stated that while the concerns raised in the petition were not being disputed, any long-term solution would have to emerge through statutory rules and regulatory mechanisms.
Counsel appearing for the petitioner argued that the existing rules already empower the DGCA to intervene in cases involving excessive or predatory pricing practices by airlines. According to the petitioner, the issue was one of non-enforcement rather than absence of legal provisions.
During the hearing, the petitioner also claimed that airfares often increase by nearly 300 per cent during holidays and peak travel periods.
The Supreme Court, however, declined to pass interim directions at this stage and granted the petitioner one week to file a reply to the counter affidavit submitted by the DGCA. The matter is now scheduled for further hearing on July 13.
Earlier this year, the Centre had informed the apex court that the issue of volatile airfare pricing and additional airline charges during holidays and festive seasons was already under examination at the highest level.
Any future regulation or rationalisation of airline pricing could carry major significance for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where tourism, medical travel, education-related movement and business connectivity remain heavily dependent on affordable and predictable air travel
