Diwali surprise for flyers! Domestic airfares plunge by 20-25%

This Diwali, travelers have a reason to rejoice as domestic airfares have seen a significant drop of 20-25% compared to last year. This decrease is attributed to an increase in airline capacity and lower oil prices.

Key Points:

A study shows a 20-25% decline in average airfares on several domestic routes this Diwali season compared to a year ago.

Factors contributing to the drop include rising airline capacity and a decrease in oil prices, as reported by PTI, citing an analysis by travel portal Ixigo.

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Fare Details: The 20-25% reduction applies to one-way average fares on tickets purchased 30 days in advance (APD basis).

Comparison of Diwali Seasons:

2023: November 10 to 16

2024: October 28 to November 3

Expert Insight: Aloke Bajpai, CEO of Ixigo Group, noted that last year, Diwali airfares surged due to limited capacity, mainly because of Go First airline's suspension. However, this year, increased capacity has led to a notable decrease in airfares for key routes in the last week of October.

Significant Fare Reductions:

Bengaluru to Kolkata: Fare dropped by 38% to ₹6,319 from ₹10,195.

Chennai to Kolkata: Fare decreased by 36% to ₹5,604 from ₹8,725.

Mumbai to Delhi: Fare dropped by 34% to ₹5,762 from ₹8,788.

Delhi to Udaipur: Fare decreased by 34% to ₹7,469 from ₹11,296.

Additional Routes with Reductions:

Delhi to Kolkata

Hyderabad to Delhi

Delhi to Srinagar

Impact of Oil Prices: Oil prices have declined by 15% this year, contributing to the more affordable travel options during the festive season.

Routes with Increased Airfares:

Ahmedabad to Delhi: Fare increased by 34% to ₹8,758 from ₹6,533.

Mumbai to Dehradun: Fare rose by 33% to ₹15,527 from ₹11,710.

Travelers can take advantage of these reduced fares to plan their trips during the festive season, ensuring a more affordable journey compared to last year.