SRINAGAR: The Centre has notified a new set of aircraft rules requiring airlines to disclose a detailed break-up of airfares, including cancellation charges and refund conditions, at the time of ticket booking. The rules also empower the government to intervene in airfares in the event of an extraordinary situation.
The Bharatiya Vayuyan Niyam, 2026, notified by the government on October 31, will come into effect from January 1, 2027, replacing the Aircraft Rules, 1937.
Under the new provisions, airlines will have to display a comprehensive breakdown of the total ticket price on their booking websites and provide the same information on the ticket issued to passengers.
The disclosure must separately specify the basic fare, taxes, fees, cancellation charges, refund conditions and any other applicable charges, enabling passengers to know the components of the amount being charged before completing their bookings.
The rules also provide for monitoring of airfares fixed by airlines by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Another significant provision empowers the Central Government to intervene in airfares during what it describes as an “extraordinary situation”.
According to the notified rules, if the government is of the opinion that such a situation has arisen, it may issue written directions as it considers necessary and expedient in the public interest.
However, the rules do not specify the circumstances that would qualify as an extraordinary situation or explain the conditions under which the government could exercise this power.
The new rules have been framed under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024, which replaced the Aircraft Act, 1934, a legislation that had remained in force for nearly 90 years.
The Bharatiya Vayuyan Niyam, 2026, will replace the existing Aircraft Rules, 1937, from January 1, 2027. The specific changes introduced in the new framework compared with the existing provisions could not be immediately ascertained.
