Lok Sabha Question No. 396 (STARRED), answered on 2026-03-19
Subject: Committee to Examine Airfare Trends
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. : 396

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  19th March 2026 )

## COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE AIRFARE TRENDS

## 396.    SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  constitute  a  high-level  committee including Members of Parliament, aviation experts and consumer representatives to examine excessive airfare increases, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the proposed committee would examine airfare trends during festive seasons, emergencies and peak travel periods and if so, the scope, mandate and timeline of the committee's work;
- (c) whether the representatives of common passengers and consumer protection bodies  would  be  included  in  the  committee  to  ensure  transparency  and accountability and if so, the details of the selection criteria and representation framework thereof;
- (d) whether the committee would recommend mechanisms for fare regulation, price caps or monitoring systems to prevent exploitation of passengers and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  whether the Government would provide the committee's recommendations in public domain and implement binding guidelines based on its findings and if so, the proposed timeline and implementation strategy thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of CIVIL AVIATION                      (Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the table of House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (E) IN RESPECT  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  396  FOR REPLY  ON  19.03.2026  REGARDING  "COMMITTEE  TO  EXAMINE AIRFARE TRENDS" BY SHRI  VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH

(a) to (e): Airfares are not subject to regulation by the Government after repeal of Air Corporations Act, 1994. Airlines have the flexibility to determine their airfares  based  on  their  operational  needs,  while  adhering  to  Rule  135  of  the Aircraft Rules, 1937.

The  airfare  established  by  the  airlines  are  subject  to  dynamic  fluctuations influenced by the fundamental economic forces of supply and demand. Various determinants  such  as  current  seat  occupancy,  fuel  costs,  aircraft  capacity, seasonal  fluctuations  and  other  relevant  factors  significantly  impact  airline ticket pricing.

The Government generally refrains from regulating airfares to maintain market competitiveness,  however,  it  remains  vigilant  oversight  role,  intervening  in exceptional circumstances by redistributing capacity across various sectors and imposing temporary fare caps, such as during COVID Pandemic, festivals like Maha  kumb, Pahalgam incident &  more recently during Indigo flight disruptions in early December, 2025.

In  order  to  enhance  the  transparency  in  airfare,  Directorate  General  of  Civil Aviation  (DGCA)  has  set-up  Tariff  Monitoring  Unit  (TMU)  that  monitors airfares on selected 78 routes on a random basis by using airlines websites on monthly basis to ensure that the airlines do not charge airfares outside the range declared by them. This covers about 27% of the domestic traffic. ; The Ministry of  Civil  Aviation  (MoCA)  has  developed  a  dedicated  "Air  Fare"  grievance module  on  the  AirSewa  platform  to  address  concerns  related  to  excessive airfares charged by domestic airlines.

Further, the Ministry has established, 24x7 Passenger Assistance Control Room (PACR)  to  enhance  passenger-centric  governance.  This  initiative  integrates MoCA, DGCA, AAI, and airlines for real-time monitoring of flight disruptions, baggage  issues,  and  refunds,  aiming  to  accelerate  grievance  redressal  and improve  the overall travel experience.  Many  passengers  have expressed satisfaction that their grievances are acknowledged and resolved promptly, and have conveyed their appreciation.

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