Airfares Surge Up to 185% Ahead of Holi, Ticket Prices Touch Rs 20,000

With Holi just days away, travellers heading home for the festival are facing a familiar problem — soaring airfares. As families and migrant workers search for last-minute tickets, prices on several key domestic routes have surged sharply for travel around February 28, the weekend preceding the celebrations.

Many passengers say train options are either fully booked or unavailable, pushing more people toward flights and intensifying demand. In several sectors, ticket prices have jumped dramatically, with some one-way fares nearing Rs 20,000.

Social media users have voiced frustration over the spike. One traveller posted that fares during the Holi period had become “insanely high,” making it difficult for middle-class families to travel. Despite monitoring prices for days, the user said, there was “no relief at all.”

Festive fare surge returns

The surge in ticket prices during major festivals such as Holi and Diwali has become a recurring trend. Airlines operate under a dynamic pricing model, where fares increase as seat availability declines and travel dates approach.

The Supreme Court recently expressed concern over steep fluctuations in airfares, calling the issue serious. The court directed the government to submit details on regulatory measures, though any immediate impact is unlikely as hearings are scheduled after the Holi travel rush.

Why prices climb before Holi

Industry patterns show that Holi triggers heavy travel from metro cities — including New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru — to destinations across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal. These routes see a sharp rise in bookings as people return to their hometowns.

Under dynamic pricing, fares rise quickly when flights begin to fill. Limited direct services on certain routes further amplify price increases, particularly when only one or two flights operate daily.

Sharp contrasts in fares

Price differences between peak festive dates and later weeks highlight the scale of the surge.

• Bengaluru–Gorakhpur fares for February 28 are hovering near Rs 19,600, while similar tickets a month later drop to around Rs 7,000.

• New Delhi–Patna fares are exceeding Rs 11,000 ahead of Holi, compared with roughly Rs 4,500 in late March.

• New Delhi–Gaya shows a comparable pattern, with fares more than doubling during the festive window.

• New Delhi–Kolkata tickets are nearing Rs 10,000 before Holi but fall below Rs 5,000 weeks later.

• Mumbai–Prayagraj and other eastern routes display similar jumps.

In some cases, differences between peak and off-peak fares exceed 150 percent.

No immediate respite for travellers

Although authorities have acknowledged concerns around airfare volatility, India’s deregulated aviation market allows airlines to adjust fares based on demand. Capacity additions sometimes occur ahead of festive seasons, but price spikes remain common.

For travellers, early booking continues to be the most effective safeguard. Those securing tickets closer to departure dates often encounter steep premiums, especially during high-demand periods like Holi.

As the festival approaches, many passengers face a difficult choice: pay elevated fares or postpone travel plans. Once the festive window closes, prices typically correct downward — but for now, flying home comes at a significant cost.