Sharp Increase in Airfares: Over 700 Flights Cancelled As Middle East War Sends India Airfares Soaring
Sharp Increase in Airfares: Over 700 Flights Cancelled As Middle East War Sends India Airfares Soaring
London-Mumbai business class touches ₹9 lakh; Hyderabad-UAE routes badly hit
Airfares on international routes from India have surged sharply as the ongoing conflict between the US, Israel and Iran disrupts major air corridors across the Middle East. With over 700 flights cancelled due to airspace closures and operational suspensions, passengers are facing steep fare hikes and widespread uncertainty.
On Monday, one-way economy class fares on a direct European airline flight from London to Mumbai rose to nearly ₹2.9 lakh. Business class fares on the same sector climbed to an unprecedented ₹9 lakh. Under normal conditions, economy fares between the two cities typically range from ₹20,000 to ₹40,000, while business class tickets are usually priced between ₹1.2 lakh and ₹2.5 lakh.
Airlines attributed the spike partly to longer flight paths taken to bypass the Gulf region. However, industry officials said the primary driver was the demand-supply imbalance caused by large-scale cancellations.
Hyderabad has emerged as one of the worst-affected cities. Air connectivity between the UAE and Hyderabad has been severely disrupted, with more than 50 flights cancelled at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport on Monday alone. The airport handles an average of 5,000 passengers daily between Hyderabad and the UAE.
On Tuesday, one-way fares from Hyderabad to London ranged between ₹65,000 and ₹90,000, nearly double the usual rates. Travel agents reported that fares to Germany jumped by 200% to 300%. Long-haul routes to the United States have also become more expensive, with tickets from Hyderabad to New York via Addis Ababa priced at around ₹1.5 lakh.
Kolkata airport officials said Gulf-based carriers cancelled around 20 flights over two days. Airlines including Air India and IndiGo operated limited services but with significantly higher ticket prices.
Although Etihad began operating evacuation flights and Emirates indicated it would start similar services, scheduled flights for Monday and Tuesday were cancelled. Reports suggest that more than 20,000 Indians are currently stranded in the UAE amid the disruptions.
Travel agents have advised passengers with non-essential travel plans to postpone their journeys until the situation stabilises. Authorities continue to monitor developments as temporary airspace closures and rerouting measures remain in effect.
Disclaimer: Airfare data and flight operations are subject to change based on evolving geopolitical and aviation advisories. Passengers should verify details with airlines before travel.
