Airfares on key routes such as Mumbai-New Delhi, New Delhi-Kolkata, and Kolkata-Bengaluru show a big jump of 50-80% on one-way, non-stop flights, as per bookings portals of airlines for October 19, two days before Diwali. The lowest available fare on the Mumbai-New Delhi route was Rs 9,500 one-way. That’s roughly 65% higher than last year’s prices.
Fares to Kolkata, ahead of Durga Puja, have also soared; with a one-way ticket from Delhi on September 27 costing Rs 13,000 at the very least, which is about 70% more than last year’s level.
Travel agents say the trends in advance bookings for the festive season reveal a surge in prices over last year with fewer airline seats resulting in demand outpacing supply.
Shortage of seats and rising jet fuel costs
Besides the in-demand routes, fares on routes which are most favoured for leisure holidays have seen a higher jump. The cheapest non-stop flight on the Mumbai-to-Dehradun sector for the given period was priced at Rs 14,000, which was nearly double compared to last Diwali.
With Diwali falling on Tuesday (October 21) this year, airline booking and travel agents say that holidaymakers are keen to make use of the long weekend comprising five days.
“Last Diwali wasn’t very cheerful for the airline industry. More than adequate capacity and fall in fuel prices kept fares under check. But this year, there is a shortage of available seats on the plane and expensive jet fuel is pushing up the prices,” said a senior executive of an online booking company.
From Rs 87,600 per kilolitre in October 2024, price of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) has jumped 5% to Rs 92,000 per kilolitre in August 2025, as per data shared by Indian Oil Corporation.
Fleet delays worsen supply crunch
Typically, fares are lower if bookings are made 30-45 days prior to the date of journey. The high fares are an indication of higher demand and lower capacity expected to be deployed during the period.
IndiGo, the country’s biggest airline, had said during the June quarter investor call that capacity will be lower in the July-September period which would lead to better passenger loads and stronger demand. Additions to fleet have been limited due to slow aircraft deliveries. Air India’s Boeing aircraft deliveries have faced significant delays following production-related issues at the US-based manufacturer. Delivery schedule of IndiGo’s A321 XLRs from Airbus is running late by 15-18 months.
Civil aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu had said in Parliament that the ministry had introduced an online mechanism to ensure passengers were not exploited by unnecessary fare hikes. Under current regulations, airfares are neither established nor regulated by the government after the repeal of the Air Corporation Act in March 1994.