Mumbai-Patna flight fares have risen to as much as ₹45,929 for travel between November 14 and 16, adding pressure on passengers heading to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh for Chhath Puja. The fare surge comes as travellers also struggle to find confirmed train tickets, leaving families with fewer affordable options for reaching home.
The prices were reported after ticket listings on EaseMyTrip were reviewed for flights from Mumbai to Patna, Varanasi and Lucknow. According to the report, fares on these routes were above ₹20,000 during the festival period, with the highest listed fare for a Mumbai-Patna flight reaching ₹45,929 on some dates.
The increase is particularly significant for families travelling together, as the cost of multiple air tickets can substantially raise the total travel budget. The report said that some domestic flight fares had become more expensive than travel to international destinations such as Thailand, Bangkok and Colombo, although no comparative fare details for those destinations were provided.
Prices also varied considerably by route, airline and date. For Mumbai-Varanasi travel, the minimum reported fare was ₹13,000, while the maximum Air India fare for November 14 was listed at ₹31,210. The same airline’s ticket for November 15 was reported at ₹13,250. On the Mumbai-Lucknow route, the maximum Air India fare was listed at ₹30,470 for November 14 and up to ₹28,038 for November 15.
The report identified Air India Express, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Air India among the airlines whose fares differed across the three travel dates. The variation means that passengers travelling even a day later could see substantial differences in the displayed price, depending on the airline and flight selected. The figures represent fare listings observed at the time of checking and may change with availability and booking demand.
Rail travel has also become difficult for passengers preparing for the festival, with confirmed tickets reportedly unavailable or hard to secure on key routes. The combination of crowded trains and expensive flights has pushed some travellers towards buses and private vehicles. However, the report said bus fares had also increased during the seasonal rush, prompting some families to book four-wheelers on a per-kilometre basis for the journey home.
The situation highlights the limited range of inter-city travel choices available during major festival periods. When rail capacity is insufficient and airfares rise sharply, passengers are left to balance urgency, affordability and travel time across commercial flights, buses and road journeys. The fare listings cited in the report cover November 14, 15 and 16, the immediate travel window examined ahead of Chhath Puja.
