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National
Centre gains power to intervene in airfares under new aviation rules
✍️ Hindustan Times
🗓 03 Nov 2026, 07:48 AM
👁 2
New aviation regulations transfer the authority to intervene in airfare tariffs from the DGCA to the Central Government in specific cases.
The Central Government has introduced new regulations that significantly alter the oversight mechanism for airfare pricing in India. Under these fresh rules, the power to intervene in tariff-related matters has been shifted from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to the Central Government.
This regulatory change means that the Ministry of Civil Aviation, acting on behalf of the Centre, will now hold the primary authority to step in on airfares. The shift aims to centralize decision-making regarding specified tariff-related grounds, ensuring a more direct governmental role in managing air travel costs.
Previously, the DGCA held the responsibility for monitoring and intervening in airfare structures. However, the new framework restricts this intervention power to the Central Government, limiting the DGCA's role in direct tariff adjustments. This move is expected to streamline the process of addressing airfare anomalies or market distortions at the highest policy level.
The new rules emphasize that such interventions will be made in rare cases and only on specified grounds, maintaining a balance between market dynamics and consumer protection. Industry observers note that this structural change reflects a broader effort to align aviation policy with central government oversight mechanisms.
This regulatory change means that the Ministry of Civil Aviation, acting on behalf of the Centre, will now hold the primary authority to step in on airfares. The shift aims to centralize decision-making regarding specified tariff-related grounds, ensuring a more direct governmental role in managing air travel costs.
Previously, the DGCA held the responsibility for monitoring and intervening in airfare structures. However, the new framework restricts this intervention power to the Central Government, limiting the DGCA's role in direct tariff adjustments. This move is expected to streamline the process of addressing airfare anomalies or market distortions at the highest policy level.
The new rules emphasize that such interventions will be made in rare cases and only on specified grounds, maintaining a balance between market dynamics and consumer protection. Industry observers note that this structural change reflects a broader effort to align aviation policy with central government oversight mechanisms.