{
  "id": 17821053,
  "title": "Airfare hike during festivals: Supreme Court tells petitioner 'Don't travel by air' as it refuses urgent hearing",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/airfare-hike-during-festivals-supreme-court-tells-petitioner-dont",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-11-02T15:43:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Live Mint",
    "slug": "live-mint",
    "url": "https://www.livemint.com/news/india/airfare-hike-during-festivals-supreme-court-tells-petitioner-dont-travel-by-air-as-it-refuses-urgent-hearing-11793633360771.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Supreme Court has ruled against a petitioner seeking to address the issue of exorbitant airline fares during festive seasons, instructing the applicant not to travel by air. The petition, filed by social activist S Laxminarayanan, highlighted that airfares have surged by up to 700% during festivals like Diwali and Chhath Puja. The court, while acknowledging the exploitation of passengers, emphasized the need for immediate relief and the framing of new rules under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024. Airlines argued that rising fuel prices were driving the fare increases, but the court criticized the lack of regulation, comparing it to price controls on essential services like railways, medicines, and electricity.",
  "summary": "S Laxminarayanan, a social activist, had filed a petition in the top court last year, asserting that airlines charge high fares around festival seasons",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Financial Times",
        "title": "Trump administration asks Supreme Court to block some California ballots",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/trump-administration-asks-supreme-court-to-block-some-california",
        "published": "2026-11-02T18:12:48.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}