Protecting passengers from unfair fares

Every travel season, non-resident Indians, particularly those working in the Gulf, are subjected to a form of seasonal extortion that has become all too predictable. As demand spikes, airfares routinely skyrocket to three or four times their standard rates, turning the basic necessity of travel into an exorbitant burden. While expat organisations and social groups have consistently raised their voices against this practice, their appeals have largely gone unheeded, echoing in a vacuum. The root of this systemic exploitation lies in existing regulations that once granted airlines the latitude to adjust fares within a 24-hour window. This provision, intended for operational flexibility, has been flagrantly misused by carriers to treat passengers as a captive market, artificially inflating prices even when fuel costs remain stable. The public outcry following the crisis involving IndiGo flights served as a stark reminder of the depth of this unchecked profiteering.

While the Central government had previously drafted rules to impose price ceilings and curb such volatility, these measures failed to mature into legislation, fueling widespread speculation that industry lobbying had stifled the process. It required the intervention of the Supreme Court to finally compel movement on the issue. In reviewing a petition on the matter, the apex court rightly questioned the inexplicable delay in enacting these regulations. Faced with judicial scrutiny, the Centre has pledged to introduce the necessary Bill in the upcoming parliamentary session. By ordering the government to submit the draft rules for review, the Supreme Court has signalled that it views this uncontrolled price hiking as a fundamental exploitation of the public.

The petition, filed by social activist S. Lakshminarayanan, articulates a comprehensive demand for fairness, calling for the establishment of an independent regulatory authority to oversee airline pricing. Beyond the issue of base fares, the petition highlights the discriminatory nature of baggage policies, specifically the reduction of free check-in baggage allowance from 25 kilograms to 15 kilograms. This move has effectively converted a service once integral to the ticket price into a new, non-discounted revenue stream for airlines, offering no relief to the passenger. These grievances underscore the need for a robust oversight mechanism that prevents airlines from treating essential services as profit-maximising avenues at the expense of the traveller.

The government’s previous temporary intervention during the aviation sector crisis, which set price ceilings ranging from 7,500 rupees for short-haul flights to 18,000 rupees for distances exceeding 1,500 kilometers, serves as a practical precedent that market controls are both feasible and necessary. As the Supreme Court continues its deliberations, with the next hearing scheduled for August, there is a renewed expectation that the era of predatory pricing will come to an end. The upcoming parliamentary session offers a critical window to move beyond temporary stop-gap measures and enact permanent legislation. For the millions of travelers who contribute significantly to the nation’s economy, this is not merely a plea for affordability; it is a fundamental demand for equitable treatment and an end to the exploitation that has, for too long, defined their journey home.