The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Union government, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) on a petition alleging that private airlines are engaging in arbitrary and unfair pricing of air tickets. The bench has granted all three authorities four weeks to file their replies.

The petition was moved by activist S. Laxminarayanan, who contends that airlines routinely adopt opaque and unpredictable pricing methods that burden passengers, particularly those who must travel at short notice. He argues that sudden spikes in fares, reduced services, weak grievance-redressal systems, hidden charges, and algorithm-driven dynamic pricing amount to exploitation and infringe upon fundamental rights such as equality, dignity, and the right to travel freely.

According to the petitioner, the absence of a dedicated regulator with the power to oversee airfare policies has allowed airlines to function without adequate checks. While the DGCA supervises aviation safety and AERA monitors airport-related tariffs, neither body has statutory authority to control ticket pricing. This regulatory gap, he says, has enabled carriers to increase fares steeply during peak demand, lower free baggage allowances from the earlier 25 kg to 15 kg in economy class, and impose various surcharges on passengers.

Laxminarayanan maintains that these practices have a disproportionate impact on people from economically weaker sections and on travelers facing urgent or unavoidable journeys. He has asked the Court to direct the creation of a new independent regulator that can set guidelines for transparent fare mechanisms and ensure consumer protection. Argued by Senior Advocate Ravindra Srivastava, the petition was filed by AoR Charu Mathur, and drafted by Advocate Abhinav Verma.

The matter will be taken up after the government and aviation authorities file their responses as directed.

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