India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup: Flight Fares & Colombo Hotel Rates Breakdown

The build-up to the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 clash in Colombo has triggered an unprecedented surge in travel, with flights and hotels seeing dramatic price spikes as fans scramble to attend Sunday's marquee fixture.

A staggering 88,000 ticket requests were made via the ICC website for the February 15 encounter. However, the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo holds just 35,000 spectators, and tickets are already sold out, leaving tens of thousands to chase last-minute travel plans or premium resale options.

Flight fares surge for India vs Pakistan

The scramble to reach Sri Lanka has sent airfares soaring. A one-way ticket from New Delhi to Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport (Katunayake) is currently priced between ₹60,000 and ₹1,00,000, compared to the usual ₹15,000 fare.

Data reported by Moneycontrol highlights a broader tournament-driven boom. Flight bookings during the T20 World Cup window are up nearly 65 percent, with airfares rising 45-50 percent across major routes. Colombo has emerged as a "breakout destination," recording a 65 percent surge in travel demand ahead of the India-Pakistan clash.

EaseMyTrip CEO Rikant Pittie told Moneycontrol that search volumes to host cities spiked 62 percent week-on-week in January once fixtures were confirmed, followed by another 34 percent jump the next week, the highest levels recorded during the tournament cycle.

Round-trip fares from Mumbai to Colombo for match dates have climbed to around ₹50,000, while some domestic Indian routes have seen fares double or even triple around marquee games.

Colombo hotel prices hit record high

Accommodation costs have followed the same upward curve. Colombo's star-class hotels between February 13-16 are quoting nearly ₹1,00,000 per night (approximately LKR 340,000).

Across host cities, hotel bookings have surged between 50 and 300 percent, according to industry executives cited by Moneycontrol. Many properties are nearing 100 percent occupancy on India match days, with Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) expected to double or triple.

With demand outstripping supply and ticket availability already exhausted, the India-Pakistan fixture has effectively created a mini travel economy of its own: one where premium price tags are matching cricket passion.