As the festive season approaches in India, airlines have announced special flights to accommodate the surge in demand from travellers eager to reunite with their families. With Diwali and Durga Puja, just around the corner, the aviation industry is preparing to ensure smooth travel for passengers.
Major airlines such as IndiGo and Air India have rolled out plans for additional flights to popular destinations nationwide. These extra services are aimed at providing passengers with more options and easing the pressure on existing flight schedules during the busy festive period.
This time of year sees millions of Indians travelling across the country to celebrate with loved ones. As demand for air travel spikes, people take advantage of long weekends and extended holidays. To meet this demand, airlines are deploying larger aircraft, adding more flights, and offering attractive deals to help passengers secure tickets for their preferred travel dates.
The special flights will operate between key cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, and Chennai, among others. Airlines are encouraging passengers to book early to avoid price hikes and ensure availability during the peak travel season.
Experts in the industry believe that the increased frequency of flights and enhanced connectivity will not only benefit travellers but also provide a much-needed boost to the aviation sector. The announcement of special flights offers welcome relief for those eager to celebrate with family and loved ones.
IndiGo, which commands over 60 per cent of India’s aviation market, has introduced two additional flights from Mumbai and Delhi to Kolkata for Durga Puja starting on October 4, 2024, and launched six more flights to and from South India for Onam. These routes include Kochi-Chennai, Chennai-Hyderabad, and others to meet the growing demand.
IndiGo has also added several new domestic routes, enhancing connectivity across key regions, including Delhi-Vijayawada, Hyderabad-Hirasar, Mumbai-Vijayawada, Mumbai-Hubli, Bangalore-Jabalpur, and more. Other services have been initiated between Kochi and Agatti (Lakshadweep), and new routes in Eastern India, such as Durgapur-Bhubaneswar and Bagdogra-Guwahati.
The launch of these new routes and additional frequencies will bring significant benefits to states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal, offering residents and businesses enhanced connectivity and more travel options. With these expansions, IndiGo will further strengthen its reach from key hubs such as Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Chennai, both domestically and internationally, to destinations like Singapore and Jeddah.
Meanwhile, in preparation for the festive season, Air India has increased its frequency on the Delhi-Kolkata route from 28 to 35 flights per week, effective September 20, 2024. Additionally, Air India has expanded its Mumbai-Kolkata connectivity from 21 to 28 flights per week. The airline will also operate daily non-stop flights from Bangalore and Hyderabad to Kolkata for nearly a month starting September 20, 2024.
These new flights are designed to provide flexible and convenient options for tourists, professionals, and students travelling to Kolkata to celebrate with their families.
Air India Express has also expanded its network in Eastern India, adding Agartala as its 32nd domestic destination. The airline has launched daily direct flights from Agartala to Guwahati and Kolkata, offering one-stop connections to eight domestic destinations, including Delhi.
Moreover, Air India Express has introduced new routes from Hyderabad to Guwahati, Bangalore to Vijayawada, and Bangalore to Indore. From Agartala, the airline will now offer 14 daily direct flights to Guwahati and Kolkata, connecting to cities like Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Imphal, Jaipur, Kochi, and Bhubaneswar. With the addition of five new routes, including Agartala-Guwahati and Hyderabad-Guwahati, Air India Express continues to strengthen its domestic network.
In August, Air India Express introduced six new daily flights, including routes from Chennai and Kolkata, as part of its domestic expansion. These services began on August 12 and include new connections on the Guwahati-Jaipur route.
Starting September 20, 2024, the airline has also launched daily non-stop flights from Bangalore and Hyderabad to Kolkata. Additionally, Air India has increased its flight frequency to Kolkata from Delhi, effective August 15, 2024, and from Mumbai, starting September 25, 2024. The Delhi-Kolkata route will now see 35 weekly flights, while the Mumbai-Kolkata route will have 28 weekly flights.
These additional flights are scheduled at convenient times, making it easier for travellers to reunite with their families during the festive season. Air India’s Kolkata services also offer smooth connections through its hubs in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore to international destinations such as the U.S., Canada, the UK, Australia, and several countries in Europe and Southeast Asia, informed the airlines.
Airfare surge
Meanwhile, with the festive season approaching, airfares are climbing. Popular routes such as Delhi-Chennai, Mumbai-Bengaluru, and Delhi-Hyderabad are seeing a surge in prices, showing at least a 15 per cent year-on-year increase as the festivities draw near.
Speaking to Financial Express, IndiGo stated, “Airfares are generally influenced by several factors, including the demand-supply equation, market dynamics, and underlying cost structures. As India’s preferred airline, our goal is to consistently offer affordable fares to our customers. IndiGo’s growth strategy is driven by providing affordable, punctual, courteous, and hassle-free service across an extensive network.”
IndiGo has announced its flagship sale, ‘The Grand Runaway Fest’, with huge discounts and offers to its passengers. Passengers can avail the benefits of this limited-time sale from September 24 to September 30, 2024.
The Centre has pledged to closely monitor these fare increases. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has confirmed that the government is actively monitoring ticket prices across all airlines.
