The Indian government has notified new airfare rules under which it can temporarily direct airlines to limit or cap ticket prices during “extraordinary situations” and when it considers intervention necessary in the public interest. The rules are designed to be proportionate to the circumstances and to last only for a specified period.

The updates also strengthen transparency requirements for consumers. Airlines operating scheduled services must set fares using operational and cost factors, submit tariff details to the DGCA, and publish fares on websites and digital platforms. Multiple outlets also highlight that airlines must show the total price payable during booking and provide detailed tariff breakup for items such as base fare and taxes, as well as charges related to cancellations and refunds.

Outlets differ in emphasis: some focus on the government’s reserved emergency power and its lack of a clear definition for “extraordinary,” while others foreground DGCA monitoring and the consumer-facing requirement for tariff transparency. One report additionally adds context on recent spikes in domestic fares during festive travel periods and links the broader policy move to high crude oil and ATF pricing.