New rules to regulate volatile airfares to be published in two weeks, Centre tells SC

The Centre on Friday (October 16, 2026) informed the Supreme Court that administrative approval had been granted for new aviation rules framed under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024 (2024 Act) to regulate volatile airfares and predatory pricing, and that they were likely to be published within two weeks.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Union government and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), told a Bench of Justices Vikram Nath, R. Mahadevan and Aparesh Kumar Singh that the rules had been finalised.

“The rules have been finalised and administrative approval has been granted. The same would be published within two weeks,” Mr. Mehta said.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by social activist S. Laxminarayan seeking binding regulatory norms to curb arbitrary airfare pricing and ancillary charges levied by private airlines during festive periods, holidays and emergencies.

Steep airfares ahead of Diwali

Senior advocate Ravindra Srivastava, appearing for the petitioner, however, questioned the delay in framing the rules, pointing out that concerns over steep airfares had resurfaced ahead of Diwali this year.

The Bench asked Mr. Mehta to place the rules before the court before the next date of hearing on November 16.