The Supreme Court has expressed strong displeasure over the sudden huge increase in flight ticket prices during festivals. The court has termed it as ‘exploitation’ of common passengers. The Central Government has assured the court that it is considering making strict rules to stop this arbitrariness of the airlines, so that the pockets of people going home during festivals are not robbed.
What order did the Supreme Court give?
The bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta, while hearing the case, said that increasing the fare during festivals is a matter of very serious concern. The court has given four weeks time to the Central Government to file an affidavit explaining what steps are being taken to stop this. The next hearing of the case has now been fixed for March 23, 2026.
Which routes are most affected?
The petition states that during festivals like Holi, Diwali and Chhath, air fares increase by three to four times. Its biggest impact is on those people who return to their homes from big cities. According to statistics, a ticket which costs Rs 5,000 on normal days reaches Rs 30,000 in the peak season.
The routes most affected include:
Delhi to Patna Mumbai to Patna Delhi to Jaipur Bangalore to Lucknow
What rules is the government considering?
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has told the court that they are seriously considering the issue. To provide relief to the passengers, these points are being discussed between the government and the court:
Price capping: During festivals, a limit can be set for ‘surge pricing’ i.e. increase in fare when demand increases. Baggage and Refund: There may be a ban on the arbitrariness of airlines regarding ticket cancellation and baggage weight. Demand for regulator: There has also been a demand to create an independent regulator to monitor air fares.
