‘Don’t Travel By Air, Next Case': Supreme Court Rejects Urgent Plea Over 700% Surge In Airfares

The Supreme Court of India on Monday refused to grant an urgent hearing to a plea challenging the steep rise in domestic airfares ahead of Diwali, with Justice Vikram Nath telling the petitioner, “Don’t travel by air. Next case.”

The remark came after advocate Abhinav, appearing for social activist S. Laxminarayanan, mentioned an interlocutory application seeking an urgent hearing on the issue.

The petitioner alleged that domestic airfares on several major routes had surged by as much as 700% during the festive season, making air travel increasingly unaffordable for passengers.

The lawyer argued that air travel had become an essential mode of transportation, particularly during festive periods when confirmed train tickets are often unavailable weeks in advance.

He also contended that excessive and unpredictable airfare hikes violated the constitutional guarantee of equality under Article 14.

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However, the three-judge bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and Aparesh Kumar Singh, declined to entertain the request for an urgent listing.

The court retained November 16 as the date for the regular hearing of the main Public Interest Litigation (PIL).

The petition is part of a broader legal challenge filed by Laxminarayanan seeking regulatory oversight of airline pricing mechanisms.

It calls for an independent regulator and a framework to address unpredictable fluctuations in ticket prices and additional airline charges.

The issue has also prompted regulatory action from the Centre. Following earlier proceedings before the Supreme Court, the government notified the Bharatiya Vayuyan Niyam, 2026, under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024.

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The new rules, scheduled to come into effect on January 1, 2027, provide for government intervention in airline tariffs under extraordinary circumstances or in the public interest.

The Centre had informed the Supreme Court in October that regulatory measures were being expedited to address airfare volatility.