Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 24: With Holi round the corner, airfares across major domestic routes have surged steeply, leaving families and migrant workers scrambling to return home for the festival of colours. Travel for February 28, the weekend preceding Holi, has become significantly expensive, with ticket prices in certain sectors rising by as much as 185% compared to fares a month later.
Passengers say trains are fully booked, and in several cases reservations have been closed, forcing many to opt for flights despite exorbitant prices. On some routes, one-way fares are hovering close to Rs 20,000, burning a deep hole in travellers’ pockets.
A commuter named Akshat voiced his concern on social media platform X, stating that flight ticket prices during Holi have “gone insanely high,” making it extremely difficult for middle-class families to travel home. He pointed out that flights from Bengaluru to Varanasi are nearly double their usual rates and added that despite tracking fares for over two weeks, there has been no relief. “Festivals should bring people together, not make travel unaffordable,” he remarked.
The recurring festive spike in airfares, particularly during Holi and Diwali, has drawn the attention of the judiciary. The Supreme Court of India on Monday expressed concern over the sharp rise in ticket prices, terming the issue serious. A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta directed the Centre to file an affidavit within four weeks detailing the steps taken to address concerns raised in Public Interest Litigations. The matter is slated for hearing on March 23, after the Holi rush, offering no immediate respite to flyers.
A comparison of fares for February 28 with those for March 28 reveals sharp corrections once the festive rush subsides.
On the Bengaluru–Gorakhpur route, fares for February 28 are listed at Rs 19,589 (plus taxes), while the same sector drops to around Rs 7,000 a month later — reflecting nearly a 158% increase. Similarly, on the New Delhi–Gorakhpur route, ticket prices fall from Rs 8,563 on February 28 to Rs 2,999 on March 28, marking close to a 185% variation.
The New Delhi–Patna sector shows a similar spike. A February 28 ticket is priced at Rs 11,056, whereas for March 28, IndiGo offers non-stop tickets at Rs 4,502 for the same one-and-a-half-hour journey — a jump of nearly 145%. On the New Delhi–Gaya route, IndiGo fares stand at Rs 11,720 for February 28, compared to Rs 4,499 a month later, underlining over a 160% rise.
The trend extends to eastern destinations such as Darbhanga and Purnea, as well as the Bengaluru–Patna sector, where fares for February 28 are pegged at Rs 15,585, dropping to Rs 7,500 by March 28 — more than a 100% increase during the peak festive window.
Kolkata too has witnessed heavy festive demand. On the New Delhi–Kolkata route, IndiGo tickets are priced at Rs 9,989 for February 28, nearly double the Rs 4,799 fare available on March 28. On the Bengaluru–Kolkata sector, a SpiceJet flight for February 28 is listed at Rs 12,412, while fares for late March are considerably lower at Rs 6,660.
The Mumbai–Prayagraj sector reflects a similar pattern, with tickets priced at Rs 16,188 for February 28, compared to Rs 6,588 a month later — a hike of nearly 146%.
Aviation experts attribute the steep rise to dynamic pricing models followed by airlines, wherein fares increase as seats fill up. The surge in demand during Holi sees large-scale travel from metros such as New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru to cities across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. Limited non-stop options on several routes further intensify the pressure.
While fares are expected to normalise after the festive rush, travellers this season continue to bear the brunt of soaring ticket prices, reigniting calls for regulatory intervention to ensure affordability during peak travel periods.