Festive travel demand has pushed domestic airfares sharply higher across India, with routes served by a single airline recording some of the steepest increases as seat availability tightens.
Fares on several routes connecting major metropolitan centres with regional destinations have risen between 50% and more than 150% compared with typical non-peak levels. The sharpest increases have been reported on journeys originating from Delhi and Mumbai, as passengers travel for Diwali, Durga Puja and other October holidays.
A non-stop economy ticket from Delhi to Patna, normally priced between Rs 3,500 and Rs 4,500, has crossed Rs 12,500 for peak travel dates, with last-minute direct fares exceeding Rs 13,500, the report said. On routes with limited or no direct competition, the increases have been considerably steeper.
For Durga Puja travel, fares from Kolkata to Deoghar have risen from about Rs 2,800 to Rs 12,500, a reported increase of roughly 340%. Delhi-Agatti fares have climbed from around Rs 8,500 to Rs 25,000 over peak October holiday dates. Bengaluru-Jharsuguda non-stop fares have increased from approximately Rs 4,200 to Rs 16,200 ahead of Diwali.
Mumbai-Bareilly fares have risen from a usual baseline of about Rs 4,500 to more than Rs 15,000. The report attributed the sharp increases on these exclusive corridors to dynamic pricing and the absence of direct competition. On the Delhi-Kolkata route, non-stop economy fares have crossed Rs 12,300 from a standard off-peak level of about Rs 4,800.
Prices have also increased on major trunk routes, although the reported rise has been less severe. Delhi-Bengaluru fares have reached about Rs 10,000, while Delhi-Mumbai tickets have been near Rs 7,000. The report put the increase at about 15% on the Bengaluru route and 11% on the Mumbai route.
On the Mumbai-Kolkata sector, where off-peak fares typically range between Rs 5,000 and Rs 6,500, direct economy tickets during peak Puja dates have risen to between Rs 11,500 and Rs 14,200. That represents an increase of approximately 100% to 135% over baseline fares.
Travel platforms cited in the report said one-way non-stop economy tickets on heavily travelled routes were selling at two to three times their standard rates as flights approached capacity. Industry analysts linked the increase to strong holiday demand alongside supply constraints, including engine-maintenance groundings, delays in fleet deliveries and higher Aviation Turbine Fuel costs.
Domestic ATF prices rose by 5.46%, or Rs 6.28 per litre, to Rs 121.28 per litre from Rs 115 on September 1. It was the second consecutive monthly increase. ATF accounts for about 35% to 40% of airline operating costs, according to the report.
With passenger load factors across major fleets consistently above 85%, a Mumbai-based tour operator told Moneycontrol that fares were likely to remain elevated until the post-festive mid-week lull.
