Indian expats in UAE, GCC welcome Supreme Court's order to regulate airfare

Indian expatriates in the UAE and neighboring Gulf nations have welcomed a recent Supreme Court decision to regulate airfare, with the hope that it will alleviate the financial strain caused by costly tickets. The Court heard the matter on August 17 and tasked the government with finalizing rules within three weeks. The Pravasi Legal Cell (PLC), a community group involved in the case, sees the development as a significant step toward protecting the interests of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), migrant workers, and the broader expatriate community.

The case, identified as W.P.(C) No. 1124/2025 – S. Laxminarayanan vs Union of India and others, centers on draft rules created by the government to address high and unregulated airfares. Additional Solicitor General Anil Kaushik presented these draft rules to the bench in a sealed envelope, which was then reviewed by the judges before being returned to Kaushik for further refinement. The Court granted his request for an additional three weeks to finalize the rules, with the matter set to be revisited on September 7.

TN Krishnakumar, President of Pravasi Legal Cell Dubai, explained that the Court's move addresses a longstanding issue affecting the community. Sudden and excessive airfare increases, especially during peak seasons, festivals, school holidays, and emergencies, have placed an enormous financial burden on many low- and middle-income expatriate workers and their families, rendering air travel not a luxury but an essential connection to their families, communities, and homeland.

Adv. Jose Abraham, Global President of PLC, emphasized that air travel is crucial for millions of Indians living and working abroad. Unreasonable airfare increases, particularly during peak seasons and emergencies, place an unfair burden on ordinary expatriate workers and their families. PLC remains committed to supporting the legal process until a sustainable solution is reached.

Beyond airfare, Abraham noted that the organization has also been advocating for migrant workers' rights, access to justice, labor and social protection, immigration, repatriation, and recruitment practices affecting Indians overseas.

PLC chapters in the Gulf countries have echoed the welcome, with representatives from Oman, Kuwait, and other regions backing the push for fair and reasonable airfares. They highlighted that affordable air connectivity is a matter of welfare and social justice for millions of Indian expatriates who rely on it to maintain connections with their families back home.

PLC plans to continue working with its chapters, legal professionals, and community organizations to raise issues affecting the Indian diaspora before relevant authorities and courts, hoping for a transparent and effective mechanism to shield ordinary expatriate workers and their families from sudden price escalations.