With Diwali still more than a month away, air travellers from Hyderabad are already grappling with steep increases in ticket prices. Airlines are capitalising on the anticipated surge in demand, driving up fares by 50% to 150% for popular destinations including Lucknow, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Amritsar, and New Delhi.
A recent survey of flight prices reveals that the cost of a one-way ticket from Hyderabad to Lucknow, typically around Rs 6,000, has now surged to between Rs 14,000 and Rs 19,000 for travel dates between October 25 and October 29. Similarly, flights to Jaipur, another sought-after destination, have jumped from approximately Rs 5,300 to nearly Rs 10,000.
The price hikes are particularly notable for routes such as Hyderabad to New Delhi, where the fare has surged by 80%, escalating from under Rs 4,000 to Rs 7,200. This trend is causing considerable discontent among travellers who had hoped to secure reasonably priced tickets well in advance. One affected traveller, a legal advisor based in Hyderabad, expressed frustration over the ticket prices for a flight to Nagpur, which increased by Rs 3,000 from last year’s rates despite booking well ahead of time. “I had to pay Rs 14,500 for a ticket to Lucknow on October 26, a sharp rise from the usual Rs 5,500,” said the advisor. Another traveller from an advertising agency in Madhapur also reported difficulty in securing affordable train tickets, leaving air travel as the only viable option despite the exorbitant prices.
Travel agents attribute this surge in fares to airlines’ strategic pricing tactics, which exploit peak holiday demand for profit. MD of Pampati Aeroworld Holidays, commented, “Airlines are deliberately inflating prices, taking advantage of the increased demand during the festive season.” The trend of early bookings is evident among students and professionals eager to visit family for Diwali. As prices continue to rise, passengers are being compelled to book flights sooner than usual, further exacerbating the financial strain of travel during the festive season.
