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Diwali and Durga Puja travel is set to cost more for air passengers this year, with fares on several popular routes rising sharply as the festive rush approaches. Some sectors are seeing ticket prices climb to two or three times their usual levels, particularly where direct flight options are limited.
Delhi-Patna fares cross Rs 12,500
The Delhi-Patna route is among the sectors witnessing a steep increase. According to Moneycontrol, one-way non-stop economy fares that typically range between Rs 3,500 and Rs 4,500 are now above Rs 12,500 on peak travel dates. Last-minute direct tickets have crossed Rs 13,500.
The sharpest jump has been recorded on the Kolkata-Deoghar sector. Fares that normally cost around Rs 2,800 have risen to about Rs 12,500 during the Durga Puja period—an increase of roughly 340 per cent.
Delhi-Agatti has also seen fares climb from the usual Rs 8,500 to nearly Rs 25,000 for peak October dates, marking a rise of around 194 per cent.
Regional routes see major fare spikes
Passengers heading to smaller cities are facing some of the biggest increases. Bengaluru-Jharsuguda non-stop fares have risen from around Rs 4,200 to Rs 16,200 ahead of Diwali, a jump of approximately 285 per cent.
On Mumbai-Bareilly, fares have moved from a regular level of about Rs 4,500 to more than Rs 15,000.
The increases are comparatively smaller on major metro routes. Delhi-Kolkata tickets have crossed Rs 12,300 from around Rs 4,800 during off-peak periods. Delhi-Bengaluru fares are near Rs 10,000, while Delhi-Mumbai tickets are around Rs 7,000.
Mumbai-Kolkata fares have also risen during the main Puja travel period, with direct economy tickets now selling for around Rs 11,500 to Rs 14,200, compared with the usual Rs 5,000-Rs 6,500 range.
Limited capacity adds to festive pressure
Strong demand and fewer available seats are pushing fares higher. Airline capacity has also been affected by fleet delivery delays, engine maintenance and rising operating expenses.
Fuel costs are adding to the pressure. Domestic ATF prices increased 5.46 per cent, or Rs 6.28 per litre, to Rs 121.28 per litre from Rs 115 on September 1. It was the second consecutive monthly increase, while ATF accounts for around 35-40 per cent of an airline's operating costs.
