Diwali flight fares from Hyderabad to several northern and central Indian cities have risen sharply ahead of the festival and Chhath, with one-way tickets to Chandigarh and Patna reaching about ₹22,000, according to a report by Aaj Tak Business. On some routes, travelling home within India is currently costing more than flying to destinations such as Singapore, Malaysia or Bangkok.
The fare increase is being reported weeks before Diwali, as people working in Hyderabad prepare to return to their hometowns and villages. The report said flights from Hyderabad to Singapore, Malaysia and Bangkok were available at about ₹15,000 to ₹18,000, making some international journeys up to ₹7,000 cheaper than domestic travel on comparable dates.
A one-way Hyderabad-Chandigarh or Hyderabad-Patna ticket is currently priced at around ₹22,000, compared with approximately ₹9,000 on normal days. The increase means passengers may have to pay more than twice the usual fare for a journey that is typically taken by workers and families travelling home for the festive season.
The Hyderabad-Jaipur route has also seen a steep rise. A ticket that generally costs around ₹8,000 was reported to be available for nearly ₹21,000 during the festival period. Fares on flights to Kolkata, Guwahati, Lucknow, Bhopal and Indore have also increased significantly, with some routes reaching nearly double their normal levels.
The fare pressure is being compounded by limited availability on long-distance trains. Trains are usually the most affordable option for festival travel, but seats on several routes become difficult to secure soon after bookings open for Diwali and Chhath. For passengers who must reach home on specific dates, air travel can therefore become the only practical alternative despite the higher cost.
Travel agents cited in the report attributed the surge to a widening gap between demand and available seats. Airlines are operating fewer flights on some routes while the number of people travelling home rises sharply during the festival period. As the lower-priced seats are sold, passengers booking later are left with more expensive options.
The report said travel agents expect fares on some routes to rise further as the travel dates approach and demand increases. Domestic airfares from Hyderabad were also reported to have remained well above normal levels during the Dussehra period. For passengers planning Diwali or Chhath travel, the immediate choices remain limited: train tickets are difficult to obtain, while flight fares are placing significant pressure on household travel budgets.
