Airfares on key domestic routes have dropped by 20-25% year-on-year, even as flight bookings have surged by 70-80% during the wedding season from November 23 to December 15, according to data from online travel aggregator ixigo.
According to the company, despite an estimated 3.5 million weddings driving the increased bookings during the period, average airfares have fallen. The average fare on the Bengaluru-Kolkata route has dropped 35% to Rs 4,778, Chennai-Kolkata by 34% to Rs 4,873, and Delhi-Goa by 22% to Rs 5,251, according to ixigo. Other significant reductions include Bengaluru-New Delhi, where the average fare is down 15% to Rs 6,739, and Mumbai-New Delhi, which is down 11% to Rs 5,885. Chennai-New Delhi fares now average Rs 5,758, reflecting an 8% decrease, while Kolkata-Bengaluru fares average Rs 5,394, marking a 28% reduction compared to the same period last year. On shorter routes, Mumbai-Chennai average fares have dropped 17% to Rs 3,477, while Ahmedabad-New Delhi is down 35% to Rs 4,146, ixigo data showed.
“Airfares across metro cities and leisure destinations have dipped by 20-25% YoY in November and December. Notably, key routes like Delhi-Bengaluru, Chennai-Kolkata, Delhi-Goa, and Bengaluru-Jaipur have experienced significant price drops compared to last season, providing travellers with more affordable options,” said Aloke Bajpai, Group CEO of ixigo.
However, cities such as Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai have seen a year-on-year increase in bookings of 55%, 84%, and 57%, respectively. Srinagar (+97%), Goa (+57%), and Jaipur (+56%) remain popular leisure destinations, while tier-II cities have recorded the highest growth rates. Varanasi bookings have risen by 265%, followed by Gorakhpur (+109%) and Amritsar (+75%). Pune (+89%), Guwahati (+80%), Ahmedabad (+75%), Raipur (+67%), and Bhubaneswar (+57%) have also seen strong demand, according to ixigo.
International travel has surged as well. Phuket saw a 270% increase in bookings, while Kuala Lumpur (+244%) and Kuwait (+205%) led growth among other destinations. Bali (+148%), Hanoi (+93%), Muscat (+124%), and Colombo (+46%) also recorded significant increases. Popular hubs like Dubai (+62%), Bangkok (+112%), and Singapore (+63%) continue to attract Indian travellers, the company added.