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What is the story about?
With India set to face Pakistan in Colombo during the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, flight fares from major Indian metros have surged dramatically, with some return tickets crossing the ₹1 lakh mark amid a late rush from travelling fans.
Travel demand has spiked sharply after uncertainty around Pakistan’s participation ended and the marquee clash was confirmed, which triggered a last-minute scramble for seats. Airlines and travel operators have reported steep price hikes across routes from Delhi, Mumbai and other major cities as supporters attempt to secure travel plans at short notice.
Industry checks indicate that a Delhi-Colombo one-way economy ticket, which typically hovers around ₹30,000, has climbed to anywhere between ₹65,000 and ₹1.45 lakh depending on availability and airline inventory. Business-class fares have gone even higher, which reflects a premium demand for the February 15 match.
The surge is not limited to a single sector. Even travellers exploring alternate routes via cities such as Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram are encountering inflated prices, with one-way fares nearing ₹30,000 and return itineraries via Delhi exceeding ₹1 lakh during peak match days.
Multiple factors have combined to fuel the spike, such as the late confirmation of the India-Pakistan fixture, the Valentine’s Day weekend rush, and also a limited airline capacity to Colombo at short notice. The demand has also begun to push hotel tariffs upward in Sri Lanka, as tourism operators brace for an influx of cricket followers ahead of one of the tournament’s most anticipated encounters.
In the case of fans who secured match tickets early, the challenge now lies in navigating skyrocketing travel costs. Yet, despite the steep fares, industry trends indicate that demand is robust, which also serves as a reminder that whenever India and Pakistan meet on the cricket field, the ripple effects extend well beyond sport into travel and tourism too.
Travel demand has spiked sharply after uncertainty around Pakistan’s participation ended and the marquee clash was confirmed, which triggered a last-minute scramble for seats. Airlines and travel operators have reported steep price hikes across routes from Delhi, Mumbai and other major cities as supporters attempt to secure travel plans at short notice.
Industry checks indicate that a Delhi-Colombo one-way economy ticket, which typically hovers around ₹30,000, has climbed to anywhere between ₹65,000 and ₹1.45 lakh depending on availability and airline inventory. Business-class fares have gone even higher, which reflects a premium demand for the February 15 match.
The surge is not limited to a single sector. Even travellers exploring alternate routes via cities such as Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram are encountering inflated prices, with one-way fares nearing ₹30,000 and return itineraries via Delhi exceeding ₹1 lakh during peak match days.
Multiple factors have combined to fuel the spike, such as the late confirmation of the India-Pakistan fixture, the Valentine’s Day weekend rush, and also a limited airline capacity to Colombo at short notice. The demand has also begun to push hotel tariffs upward in Sri Lanka, as tourism operators brace for an influx of cricket followers ahead of one of the tournament’s most anticipated encounters.
In the case of fans who secured match tickets early, the challenge now lies in navigating skyrocketing travel costs. Yet, despite the steep fares, industry trends indicate that demand is robust, which also serves as a reminder that whenever India and Pakistan meet on the cricket field, the ripple effects extend well beyond sport into travel and tourism too.
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