Lok Sabha Question No. 2079 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-12
Subject: Airfare and Baggage Charges
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Parshottambhai Rupala, Shri N K Premachandran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2079

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  12th February 2026 )

## AIRFARE AND BAGGAGE CHARGES

2079.    SHRI PARSHOTTAMBHAI RUPALA SHRI N K PREMACHANDRAN Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government is aware that airlines are levying disproportionately high charges for airfares and excess baggage and not following the recent Order in this regard and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether any existing guidelines or regulatory provisions are in place to regulate or mandate transparent disclosure of airfares and excess baggage fees by airlines and if so, the details thereof;

- (c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  strengthen  the  regulatory  framework  to ensure transparency and prevent overcharging and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken/proposed to be taken in this regard;

(d)  whether the Government intends to direct the Legal Metrology Department to carry out regular inspection and calibration of weighing machines installed at airports and if so, the details thereof;

- (e) whether the Government proposes to enact law to empower regulators to cap fares or enforce fare transparency and if so, the details thereof; and

(f)  whether  the  Government  also  proposes  to  introduce  new  airlines  to  meet  the domestic requirements and reduce the price and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION         (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a) to (e): Airfares are not subject to regulation by the Government and airlines have the  flexibility  to  determine  their  airfares  based  on  their  operational  needs,  while adhering to Rule 135 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937. The Government generally refrains from  regulating  airfares  to  maintain  market  competitiveness,  however,  it  remains vigilant  and  intervenes  in  exceptional  circumstances  by  adopting  measures  like redistributing capacity across various sectors and imposing temporary fare caps, such as during Pandemic, Maha kumb, Pahalgam incident & recently massive Indigo flight disruptions.

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.

In order to ensure transparent disclosure of airfares, airlines have been advised to publish the tariff sheet in a conspicuous, easily accessible, and visible manner on the homepage or a prominent section of their website. DGCA has issued ATC 01/2025 "Publishing of Tariff Sheet - Rule 135 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937" wherein scheduled domestic airlines can make changes in the tariff sheet which is published on their website on every first day of the calendar month, solely due to introduction of any new sector or in case of any concessional/promo fare.

Considering the fact that unbundling of certain services & charges thereto has the potential to make basic fare affordable & provides the consumer an option of paying the services a passenger wishes to avail, Government has unbundled certain services which includes excess baggage charges also.

Periodic Calibration is being conducted regularly, as required, in compliance with the rules  and  regulations  of  the  Legal  Metrology  Department  (Weights  &  Measures Department) of the respective states. The corresponding calibration certificates are duly displayed.

(f): There are no regulatory entry barriers for new airline entrants, and any company desirous  of  starting  an  airline  can  approach  the  Government  with  their  proposed business plan for obtaining initial NOC. In last two years, the Ministry has given NOC to 07 airlines.

Further,  to  make  air-travel  more  affordable,  the  government  has  encouraged rationalisation  of  traffic  rights  through  capacity  diversion,  expansion  of  airport infrastructure, facilitation of fleet induction by multiple carriers, and broadening of regional air connectivity under the UDAN Scheme, which enables several airlines to operate on underserved and unserved routes.

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