Private airlines’ rollercoaster fares during holidays are in the government’s crosshairs, with the Centre briefing the Supreme Court on its investigative steps. The update, delivered Monday, covers surging base rates and ancillary charges amid peak demand.
Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta heard arguments in a PIL decrying aviation’s shadowy pricing via algorithms and the stingy baggage policy shift. It’s a call for reform in an industry vital to modern India.
ASG Anil Kaushik outlined elevated engagements, including a Solicitor General meeting and authority parleys. Assuring a counter-affidavit soon, he asked for four weeks—a request the court approved, adjourning to March 23.
The judges flagged extreme price swings as critically concerning, validating the Article 32 plea. They sidestepped FIA’s participation bid, noting governmental stakeholder inclusion in policymaking.
Social activist S. Lakshminarayanan’s petition, via lawyer Charu Mathur, warns of air travel’s affordability crisis. Classified essential, it’s plagued by predatory surges during urgent needs like medical trips, festivals, or career moves—fares spiking manifold swiftly.
Reducing free check-in from 25kg to 15kg reeks of revenue grabs, the filing contends, violating constitutional rights under Article 21. Relief sought: Mandate a regulatory body or independent authority for fare oversight, compliance, and passenger redressal with judicial-like authority.
As celebrations loom, this saga underscores tensions between airline profits and public good. Positive outcomes could stabilize costs, enhancing access to air connectivity nationwide.