Supreme Court seeks Centre & DGCA response to plea alleging unfair airline pricing

The article covers the Supreme Court’s notice to the Union government and DGCA on a plea alleging unfair and non-transparent airline pricing practices. Petitioners argued that airlines impose exorbitant last-minute fares, arbitrary cancellation charges, and fluctuating dynamic pricing without oversight. The Court questioned the regulatory gaps in fare-band rules and consumer safeguards, asking the DGCA to clearly explain monitoring mechanisms for fare manipulation. It observed that while aviation operates in a deregulated market, consumer exploitation cannot be tolerated. The Court sought clarity on whether airlines follow structured cost-based pricing models, how surcharge components are determined, and whether DGCA audits fare data periodically. The case could shape future regulatory reforms in the aviation sector by pushing for greater transparency and accountability in airline pricing practices.