Supreme Court Plea Alleges 700% Increase In Airfares: Justice Vikram Nath Says "Don't Travel"

Supreme Court judges Justice Vikram Nath today advised a counsel before him not to travel by air as Justice Nath led bench was informed of an alleged 700% increase in airfares through a PIL.

Justice Nath told the counsel before him, "Don’t travel by air."

When the counsel argued that air travel is an essential service and cited Article 14, Justice Nath reiterated, “Alright, don’t travel.”

Notably, Justice Nath led bench of the Supreme Court is already seized of a plea seeking a binding regulatory framework for airline pricing and passenger rights.

In August, the bench, while hearing a plea filed on the issue, had pressed the Centre to finalise proposed rules governing airfare pricing, surge pricing, baggage and other additional charges, cancellation and refund norms, as it heard a plea seeking stronger consumer protection in the aviation sector.

The court had earlier questioned the Union Government over the delay in notifying new aviation rules amid complaints of arbitrary airline ticket pricing and inadequate regulatory oversight, directing the Centre to place the finalised rules before it within two weeks, irrespective of whether they have been laid before Parliament.

In May, the Bench had expressed concern over steep and unpredictable airfare hikes by private airlines during festive seasons and holidays, observing that there has to be some “rationalisation” in ticket pricing. Court had also observed that fluctuations in airfare of private airlines during festive seasons and holidays is a matter of "serious concern". The bench had said, "This is a very serious concern. Otherwise, we don’t entertain 32 petition".

A social activist and frequent air traveller, S. Laxminarayanan has approached the Supreme Court seeking urgent judicial intervention to curb what he described as “unchecked, opaque and exploitative” airfare practices by private airlines in India. The petitioner moved a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution seeking binding guidelines to regulate sudden fare fluctuations, unchecked dynamic pricing, and rising ancillary charges such as baggage fees.

The petitioner in the plea argued that air travel, once considered a luxury, has become an essential service for millions, particularly during emergencies, medical exigencies, and in geographies where road and rail access is limited. Despite its criticality, the petitioner contended, passengers remain vulnerable to airline discretion, with no effective oversight from existing regulators.

According to the plea, arbitrary fare hikes, unilateral reduction of services, shrinking baggage allowances, opaque pricing algorithms, and inadequate grievance redressal mechanisms violate Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution. The petitioner stressed that the right to life under Article 21 includes mobility with dignity, access to essential public services, and protection against exploitation.

The petitioner highlighted that airlines are permitted to alter fares several times within minutes, enabling them to extract maximum revenue during high demand. Dynamic pricing algorithms, it was submitted, allow fares to double or triple within hours, disproportionately affecting last-minute and emergency travellers. Recent incidents, including steep surges during festivals, natural disasters, or terror-related disruptions, were cited as examples of citizens being forced to pay “predatory” prices during moments of vulnerability.

The petition also criticised private airlines for reducing the free check-in baggage allowance for economy passengers from 25 kg to 15 kg, calling the 40 percent reduction an “unjustified monetisation” of a previously included service.

Bench: Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and Aparesh Kumar Singh

Hearing Date: November 2, 2026