NEW DELHI, NOV 2 (AGENCIES): The Supreme Court on Monday rejected an urgent hearing request on a plea seeking a cap on domestic airfares amid Diwali price surges. “Don’t travel by air,” Justice Vikram Nath remarked before asking for the next case.
The petitioner alleged that airfares had increased by 700% over normal rates, arguing that steep hikes violated Article 14 and that air travel was an essential service. The public interest litigation seeks directions against allegedly arbitrary and exorbitant fares during festivals, holidays and emergencies. The Centre had informed the court in October that new aviation rules under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, had received administrative approval and were likely to be published within two weeks.
The bench had sought the rules before the next hearing on November 16.
Meanwhile, the Centre has notified rules allowing intervention in airfare pricing during extraordinary situations and in public interest.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026