Domestic flight ticket prices have surged sharply during the festive season, with fares on several routes increasing by up to 96% amid strong travel demand, higher aviation fuel costs and revised fuel surcharges.
Highlights
- One-way domestic airfares have reached ₹35,000 on some routes during the festive season.
- Chennai–Kolkata fares increased nearly 96% to ₹15,500 during the Durga Puja travel period.
- Mumbai–Kolkata ticket prices rose approximately 77% to ₹15,200.
- Bengaluru–Kolkata fares jumped 76% to ₹16,900.
Festival Airfares Surge to ₹35,000 on Domestic Routes as Travel Demand and Fuel Costs Rise
Domestic airfares across India have increased sharply during the festive season, with one-way tickets on several popular routes reaching as high as ₹35,000.
According to a Financial Express report dated October 17, data from travel platforms Cleartrip and Wego showed significant fare increases during Durga Puja, Chhath Puja and the upcoming year-end holiday period.
The surge has been driven by strong passenger demand, rising aviation turbine fuel prices and additional fuel surcharges introduced by airlines.
Airfares Rise Up to 96% During Durga Puja
According to Cleartrip’s PeekABoo trends tracker, average one-way fares from Chennai to Kolkata during the October 11–20 Durga Puja travel window reached approximately ₹15,500.
This was nearly 96% higher than the ₹7,900 average recorded during off-peak periods.
Mumbai–Kolkata fares averaged ₹15,200, compared with ₹8,600 during normal periods, representing an increase of around 77%.
Similarly, Bengaluru–Kolkata fares climbed approximately 76% to ₹16,900 from ₹9,600.
Delhi–Kolkata one-way fares averaged around ₹12,300.
Chhath Puja Travel Pushes Ticket Prices Higher
Airfares on routes connecting major cities to Patna have also increased significantly ahead of Chhath Puja.
Cleartrip data showed that direct one-way tickets from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru to Patna reached ₹25,000–35,000 during peak travel dates in the November 4–15 festive window.
During normal periods, base fares on these routes typically range between ₹4,500 and ₹6,000.
Delhi–Patna fares were reported at approximately ₹12,500–18,000 during the high-demand period.
The sharp increases reflect heavy travel demand among passengers returning home for the festival.
Higher Aviation Fuel Prices Add Pressure
Rising aviation fuel costs have contributed to higher ticket prices.
IndiGo said aviation turbine fuel prices increased more than 14% compared with the previous month, pushing fuel costs to some of the highest levels recorded in the past decade.
Airlines including IndiGo, Air India Group and Akasa Air have introduced or revised domestic fuel surcharges ranging from ₹375 to ₹1,300.
These additional charges have further increased the cost of air travel.
Year-End Holiday Fares Also Climb
Airfares are expected to remain elevated during the December holiday season.
According to Wego data, average fares for October departures from Kolkata to Bagdogra increased 72% compared with September, reaching ₹6,920.
Bengaluru–Guwahati fares rose 47% to ₹11,620, while Bengaluru–Kolkata fares increased 44% to ₹10,210.
For December 20–24, one-way tickets from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru to Goa were priced around ₹4,000–6,500.
However, fares for December 28–31 were significantly higher, ranging between ₹12,000 and ₹22,000.
Peak non-stop one-way fares to Goa reached ₹18,000–35,000.
Centre Finalises New Airfare Regulations
Amid concerns over volatile airfares, the central government has informed the Supreme Court that new aviation rules are being finalised.
The proposed regulations have been framed under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, to address airfare volatility and predatory pricing practices.
Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta told a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, R. Mahadevan and Aparash Kumar Singh that the rules had been finalised and were likely to be published within two weeks.
The proposed regulatory framework could help address concerns over sharp fare increases during peak travel periods.
