The Supreme Court on Friday pulled up the Centre over the soaring airfares in the country, calling for rational pricing to protect passengers from exorbitant rates during peak seasons. A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and B R Gavai expressed displeasure over the lack of a mechanism to check arbitrary fare hikes by airlines.
Court Expresses Concern Over Unregulated Fares
The bench observed that airlines were charging exorbitant prices, especially during festivals and emergencies, leaving passengers with no choice but to pay up. The court said that while it understands the dynamics of a free market, there must be a balance between commercial interests and passenger welfare.
Government's Response
The Centre, represented by Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, submitted that airfares are determined by market forces and that the government has limited powers to intervene. However, the court was not satisfied with this explanation and directed the government to consider putting in place a fare regulation mechanism.
The court also noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government had fixed fare bands, which worked well. It suggested that a similar approach could be adopted for peak seasons and emergencies.
Passenger Rights Take Center Stage
The bench emphasized that passengers are often at the mercy of airlines, especially during natural calamities or when they need to travel urgently. It said that the government must ensure that citizens are not exploited by airlines.
The court has asked the Centre to file a detailed affidavit within four weeks outlining steps to rationalize airfares. The matter will be heard next after six weeks.
Industry Reaction
Airline associations have expressed concerns over any move to cap fares, arguing that it could hurt the industry's financial health. However, passenger rights groups have welcomed the court's intervention, calling it a long-overdue step to protect consumers.
The Supreme Court's strong observations come amid reports of airfares skyrocketing during the recent holiday season and after the resumption of full flight operations post-pandemic.
