The festive season is almost here, bringing with it the cherished annual tradition of travelling home to celebrate with family. But for many Indians this year, the joy of reunion is being tempered by the harsh reality of skyrocketing airfares.
A Perfect Storm for High Fares
Planning
a trip for Diwali or Christmas? Brace for impact. Airfares on major domestic routes have surged, with some one-way tickets crossing the ₹20,000 mark. On certain regional routes, prices have jumped by as much as 300%. This spike is driven by a combination of factors: intense festive demand, a reduced number of scheduled flights on some routes, and rising Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) costs, which make up a significant portion of an airline's operating expenses. Airlines are using dynamic pricing, which means fares climb steadily as seats fill up, penalising those who wait until the last minute. This perfect storm leaves travellers in a difficult position, trying to find a flight that doesn’t break their holiday budget.
The Routes Feeling the Most Pain
The price hikes are not uniform across the country. The steepest increases are on 'homecoming' routes that connect major metro hubs with Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Corridors like Bengaluru to Patna, Mumbai to Lucknow, and Delhi to Varanasi are seeing some of the most dramatic fare increases. For instance, social media users have pointed out a Bengaluru-Patna ticket costing over ₹21,000, while a flight to an international destination like the Maldives was available for just over ₹12,000. Even high-frequency metro-to-metro routes are affected. Fares on the Delhi-Bengaluru, Delhi-Hyderabad, and Mumbai-Kolkata routes have seen significant jumps, with some tickets reportedly increasing by 30-68% compared to the previous year.
Smart Strategies to Soften the Blow
While the situation seems grim, there are still ways to save. The most effective strategy is to book as early as possible. Experts consistently advise that booking weeks or even months in advance is the best way to secure a reasonable price. Flexibility is your next best friend. If you can, adjust your travel dates by a few days. Flying a day or two before the peak festival rush (for example, on a Tuesday or Wednesday before Diwali) can lead to significant savings. Similarly, returning a few days after the peak return window can also cut costs. Don't forget to use flight comparison websites to check all available options, and consider flying at off-peak hours, such as early in the morning or late at night.
Thinking Outside the Main Airport
Another savvy move is to consider alternative airports. If your final destination is accessible from multiple airports, check fares for all of them. Sometimes, flying into a nearby smaller city and completing the journey by road can be substantially cheaper than flying directly into a major hub during the festive rush. This is particularly true for those travelling from international destinations to India, where a one-stop flight to a secondary airport can sometimes offer better value than a non-stop flight to a major metro. This approach requires a bit more planning but can yield considerable savings that make the extra effort worthwhile.
How Travellers Are Adapting
Faced with these high costs, Indian travellers are getting creative. A recent report on festive travel trends shows a growing preference for multiple, shorter getaways rather than one long holiday. Bookings for the festive period are already up significantly from last year, with many travellers opting for two-night trips. There is also a notable trend towards spontaneity, with many booking their trips within a week of their travel date, perhaps hoping for last-minute deals or simply deciding on a shorter, more affordable break. Popular destinations for these shorter trips include places like Hampi, Gokarna, Rishikesh, and increasingly, destinations in the Himalayas.
