Festival airfares soar up to 25% for Diwali and Onam

Airfares rises: As the festive season approaches, travellers are facing a significant spike in airfares, with prices climbing up to 25 per cent for flights during Diwali and Onam. According to a recent analysis by travel portal ixigo, average one-way ticket prices on key domestic routes have surged due to heightened demand.

For the Diwali period from October 30 to November 5, fares on major routes have risen sharply. On the Delhi-Chennai route, one-way economy fares have increased by 25 per cent to Rs 7,618 compared to the same period last year. Similarly, ticket prices on the Mumbai-Hyderabad route are up by 21 per cent to Rs 5,162, while fares on the Delhi-Goa and Delhi-Ahmedabad routes have climbed 19 per cent to Rs 5,999 and 16 per cent to Rs 4,930, respectively.

The rise in fares is attributed to the growing travel demand for Diwali, with average one-way fares on popular routes such as Delhi-Chennai, Mumbai-Bengaluru, and Delhi-Hyderabad ranging between Rs 4,000 and Rs 5,000, reflecting a 10-15 per cent year-on-year increase. Conversely, some routes have experienced fare reductions. For instance, fares on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route have dropped by 27 per cent to Rs 2,508, while the Mumbai-Udaipur flight has seen a 25 per cent decrease to Rs 4,890. Bengaluru-Hyderabad flights are now 23 per cent cheaper at Rs 3,383, and Mumbai-Jammu flights have fallen 21 per cent to Rs 7,826.

The situation is similar for flights to Kerala for the Onam festival, with fare increases ranging from 1 per cent to 25 per cent on select routes. For example, fares from Hyderabad to Thiruvananthapuram have risen by 30 per cent to Rs 4,102, and flights from Mumbai to Calicut have increased by the same percentage to Rs 4,448. This surge in prices reflects a doubling in flight bookings and searches for travel to Kerala compared to last year.

Concerns over high airfares during peak and festival seasons have prompted the Civil Aviation Ministry to consider new measures. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu recently announced plans to introduce an online mechanism to address passenger grievances and prevent excessive fare hikes. Currently, airfares are not regulated by the government following the repeal of the Air Corporation Act in 1994. The ministry has advised airlines to self-regulate and moderate their pricing practices.

As the festival season continues, travellers are advised to book early and monitor fares closely to secure the best deals.