Stories
Diwali Flight Fares Spark Outrage As Domestic Tickets Cost More Than International Trips
- •Skyrocketing domestic airfares ahead of Diwali have left travellers shocked, with many discovering that flying to international destinations like the Maldives, Bangkok, and Dubai is cheaper than booking tickets to their hometowns.
- •Social media users shared viral screenshots comparing soaring domestic prices—such as Pune to Nagpur costing Rs 23,994 compared to Pune to Dubai at Rs 16,995—sparking widespread humorous and frustrated reactions online.
- •Travellers highlighted the difficult choice between poorly timed affordable flights and convenient flights costing a fortune, leading to calls for greater government regulation and price caps on airline tickets.
Key Questions Answered
Travel agents attribute the soaring domestic airfares and severe price spikes to limited flight availability, uncertainty in the Middle East, and a clear mismatch between supply and demand as seats fill up rapidly. Because airlines are operating fewer flights on several sectors, dynamic pricing has driven domestic tickets higher than trips to destinations like the Maldives or Bangkok.
Social media price comparisons revealed that domestic routes can be significantly pricier than flying abroad. For instance, a Pune-to-Nagpur ticket reached Rs 23,994 while Pune to Dubai cost Rs 16,995, and a Bengaluru-to-Patna flight cost Rs 21,695 compared to just Rs 12,033 for the Maldives. Similarly, some Mumbai-to-Guwahati fares ranged between Rs 22,000 and Rs 43,000.
The sudden surge is driven by millions of Indians traveling home to reunite with their families and celebrate festivals like Dussehra and Diwali. Key domestic sectors connecting major metropolitan hubs to eastern and northern cities experienced severe rushes, while international travel options to places like Singapore, Malaysia, and Bangkok remained cheaper or recorded substantial booking growths.
