Airfares surge by 25% for key routes as Diwali and Onam approach

As the festive season approaches, airfares are experiencing a notable increase. A recent analysis by travel portal ixigo has highlighted significant price hikes for flights during Diwali and Onam. On key domestic routes, ticket prices have surged by up to 25% for Onam and 10-15% for Diwali.

For instance, a one-way economy ticket from Delhi to Chennai during the Diwali period (October 30-November 5) is now priced at ₹7,618, marking a 25% increase compared to last year. Similarly, fares on the Mumbai-Hyderabad route have risen by 21% to ₹5,162, while flights from Delhi to Goa and Ahmedabad have seen increases of 19% and 14% respectively.

Rajnish Kumar, Group Co-CEO of ixigo, attributed these increases to a rise in travel demand. “Popular routes like Delhi-Chennai, Mumbai-Bengaluru, and Delhi-Hyderabad are seeing average one-way fares ranging between ₹4,000-5,000, reflecting a 10-15% year-over-year increase,” he explained. Some routes, however, have experienced price drops. For example, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route has seen a 27% reduction, bringing fares down to ₹2,508.

The trend is similarly reflected in fares for flights to Kerala for Onam. Prices have jumped by 20-25% on certain routes, such as the Hyderabad-Thiruvananthapuram flight, which now costs ₹4,102, up 30% from last year. Yet, on some routes, fares have decreased by up to 35%, with the Mumbai-Udaipur flight dropping by 25% to ₹4,890.

These fare increases have led to concerns about affordability, especially during peak travel seasons. In response, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu announced plans to implement an online grievance mechanism to address passenger complaints about fare hikes. Currently, the government does not regulate airfares, following the repeal of the Air Corporation Act in 1994. The ministry has urged airlines to self-regulate and moderate their pricing.

Travelers are advised to book tickets early and consider flexible travel dates to manage costs effectively during this busy season. The surge in demand, coupled with limited capacity and dynamic pricing strategies by airlines, continues to drive up airfare prices as the festive season nears.