India’s aviation regulator will shortly lay down guidelines on fares and refund timelines, and ban charges on certain services such as for providing wheelchairs as per a report in Mint by Tarun Shukla. “The intention is to check airfare prices from going up extraordinarily in these difficult times,” said director general of civil aviation Bharat Bhushan.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) new rules will be implemented after being approved by the aviation ministry. Airlines will be asked to be more transparent in their fare structures, said another government official, who declined to be identified.

Carriers will need to explicitly mention all the components in their fares, including fuel surcharges, airport taxes, service taxes and insurance. Components that are not a part of the airfare such as excess baggage charges have to be highlighted during booking. Airline firms will be barred from charging for wheelchairs, seat assignments and assisting unaccompanied minors.

The new rules will also require airfares to be commensurate with distances. For example, if a Delhi-Dehradun flight ticket is available for Rs.3,000, a Delhi-Kullu flight of an equal distance cannot be charged at Rs.15,000.

DGCA will also mandate under the new rules that airlines ensure refunds to passengers are released within one week in cash or by transfer. Currently, some airlines do not provide refunds and instead ask passengers to offset the money in a future flight within one year.

Airlines will be asked to keep airfares within a reasonable level and any big hike should be commensurate with changes in operating costs, say, because of a rise in jet fuel prices.

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