Domestic airfares from Bengaluru have climbed sharply ahead of Deepavali, with one-way tickets to several major destinations costing up to Rs 26,663 and fares to Delhi rising nearly 78% over last year’s festive-week average.
Passengers travelling during the first week of November are paying between Rs 18,083 and Rs 26,053 for flights to Patna, according to fare comparisons reported by Deccan Herald. Tickets to Varanasi range from Rs 13,807 to Rs 26,663, while fares to Jaipur are priced between Rs 12,224 and Rs 15,379. One-way fares to Delhi range from Rs 14,694 to Rs 23,659.
The increase has affected travellers who booked weeks in advance. Ansh Thakur, a Varthur resident, said his family paid more than Rs 13,000 per person for a Delhi trip, compared with the usual fare of about Rs 8,000 during the festive period. He said the booking was made around a month in advance but still cost about 50% more than expected.
The year-on-year increase is particularly visible on the Bengaluru-Delhi route. The average one-way fare during Deepavali week in 2025 was around Rs 9,264, while the average fare for November 7 this year is Rs 16,469. That represents an increase of nearly 78%.
On the Bengaluru-Patna route, tickets for November 7 are priced at Rs 26,053. This compares with fares of about Rs 11,000 to Rs 13,000 on non-peak dates in October. Travellers cited by the report said fares had risen by roughly 50% compared with previous years.
Some passengers are reconsidering their travel plans as prices continue to rise. Sakshi Shetty, an RT Nagar resident, said she and her husband had expected fares to fall after they delayed booking, but prices increased instead. The couple had planned to travel to Patna for a family visit.
Seasonal demand is being compounded by higher aviation turbine fuel prices. Domestic ATF prices rose by Rs 16 per litre in October to around Rs 137 per litre, following increases in August and September. Rohit Hangal, director of Sphere Travelmedia and Exhibitions, said fuel accounts for around 30% to 40% of an airline’s operating expenses.
Hangal said airlines had revised fuel surcharges to offset higher operating costs. He also attributed the fare pressure to Deepavali demand and Bengaluru’s growing migrant population, which creates strong seasonal travel flows to cities such as Delhi, Patna and Varanasi.
Airlines have introduced additional charges during the period. IndiGo revised its fuel charges from October 6, while Air India and Air India Express announced additional surcharges from October 9. The domestic surcharges range from Rs 400 to Rs 1,200, depending on the distance travelled.
For Bengaluru residents, the fare increase is affecting both the cost of visiting family during Deepavali and the viability of air travel on routes with strong seasonal demand. The current fare comparisons cover travel during the first week of November, when the festival-related rush is expected to place continued pressure on available seats.
