'Don't Travel By Air, Next Case': Supreme Court Declines Plea Against 700% Airfare Hike Amid Diwali Travel Rush

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking intervention against steep increases in domestic airfares, with Justice Vikram Nath responding to the petitioner's concerns by saying, “Alright, don't travel by air. Next case.”

The remark came when an advocate mentioned the matter before the court, arguing that airfares had surged by as much as 700 per cent and that air travel had become an essential service for many passengers. The court declined to take up the plea at that stage and proceeded to the next matter, as reported by Live Law.

The petition alleges that airlines sharply increase ticket prices overnight under the dynamic pricing system, particularly during festivals, holidays and emergencies. It seeks guidelines to regulate such fluctuations and prevent steep fare hikes during periods of high demand.

A related PIL filed by S. Lakshminarayan on the issue is already pending before a bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta.

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Domestic Airfares Soar Ahead Of Diwali

The court proceedings come amid a sharp rise in domestic airfares during the Diwali travel season, with passengers facing significantly higher costs to visit their hometowns or travel for holidays. An analysis of fares by The Free Press Journal found that ticket prices on several domestic routes had increased by more than 300 per cent, with some fares climbing over 450 per cent compared with regular levels.

The Delhi-Mumbai corridor recorded some of the steepest increases. An Air India one-way ticket for November 7 was priced at Rs 26,560, against a usual fare of around Rs 5,000, marking a 431 per cent rise. A SpiceJet return flight for November 15 was listed at Rs 28,130, approximately 462 per cent higher than its regular fare.

Other routes have also witnessed substantial increases. An Air India flight from Mumbai to Ahmedabad on November 6 was priced at Rs 12,545, around 318 per cent above its usual fare. The Mumbai-Patna service on November 8 was listed at Rs 28,221, a 303 per cent increase. Star Air's Mumbai-Kolhapur flight on November 6 was priced at Rs 9,820, compared with its usual fare of approximately Rs 4,000. Fares to Nagpur had climbed to Rs 21,008, reflecting a 320 per cent increase.

International Tickets Cheaper Than Some Domestic Flights

The fare surge has also created an unusual situation in which several international routes are cheaper than domestic flights during the same travel period. One-way tickets to London on November 7 were available for around Rs 25,500 through carriers such as Etihad Airways and Azerbaijan Airlines, lower than the Rs 26,560 Air India fare on the Delhi-Mumbai route.

Short-haul international destinations, including Bangkok, Dubai, Colombo, Singapore and Phuket, had fares ranging between Rs 15,000 and Rs 22,000.

The issue of regulating dynamic airfare pricing has been under discussion for months. The Union government had reportedly committed on October 16 to finalising a regulatory framework within 14 days to address sharp fare fluctuations, setting October 30 as the deadline. However, the proposed framework had not been announced by that date.

With the festive travel period underway, passengers have continued to raise concerns over steep ticket prices and the absence of clear fare-regulation measures. The debate over airline pricing is expected to remain in focus as demand for return journeys rises through November.

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