As the festive season approaches, airfares across major domestic routes in India have surged, causing a dent in the pockets of travelers.
According to an analysis by travel portal ixigo, the average one-way ticket price has risen by 10-15 per cent for Diwali and a staggering 20-25 per cent for flights to Kerala cities during the Onam festival.
The analysis highlights that the average one-way economy fare for a non-stop flight on the Delhi-Chennai route during the peak travel period from October 30 to November 5 is 25 per cent higher, reaching Rs 7,618 compared to the same period last year.
Similar trends are visible on other popular routes such as Mumbai-Hyderabad, where fares have climbed 21 per cent to Rs 5,162, and Delhi-Goa, where prices have surged by 19 per cent to Rs 5,999.
The surge isn’t uniform across all routes, though. On some, the increase is marginal—1 to 16 per cent—indicating that while the demand is high, the market is also experiencing some level of self-regulation.
Diwali rush
Rajnish Kumar, Group Co-CEO of ixigo, pointed out the growing travel demand for Diwali, which is driving up airfares on high-traffic routes.
“Popular routes like Delhi-Chennai, Mumbai-Bengaluru, and Delhi-Hyderabad are seeing average one-way fares between Rs 4,000-5,000, marking a 10-15 per cent year-on-year increase as the festival approaches,” he said.
However, it’s not all bad news for travelers. On certain routes, airfares have dropped significantly. For instance, the fare on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad flight has plunged by 27 per cent to Rs 2,508, while the Mumbai-Udaipur flight has seen a 25 per cent drop, with fares now at Rs 4,890.
Similarly, Bengaluru-Hyderabad flights have seen a 23 per cent decrease, with prices now at Rs 3,383.
Onam season sees steep hikes
Onam, Kerala’s most celebrated festival, has also led to a surge in airfares on key routes. The ixigo analysis shows that during the September 6-15 period, prices have spiked by up to 30 per cent for routes like Hyderabad-Thiruvananthapuram, where fares have risen to Rs 4,102, and Mumbai-Calicut, now priced at Rs 4,448.
“Travel demand for Onam festivities has surged this year, with flight bookings and searches for travel to Kerala doubling compared to last year,” Rajnish Kumar observed.
He added that airfares to key Kerala cities like Cochin, Calicut, and Thiruvananthapuram have seen a 20-25 per cent year-on-year rise.
Regulatory oversight
The rise in airfares has reignited concerns over the pricing strategies adopted by airlines, especially during peak seasons.
In response to growing public discontent, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu recently informed the Lok Sabha that the ministry is considering introducing an online mechanism to handle grievances related to airfares.
This initiative aims to prevent exploitation of passengers through unnecessary fare hikes.
Despite these concerns, the government does not regulate airfares under current regulations, following the repeal of the Air Corporation Act in March 1994.
Last month, the Ministry of Civil Aviation advised airlines to self-regulate and practice moderation in ticket pricing, particularly during peak seasons.
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