This year, airfares on Diwali have come down significantly compared to last year. Airlines have expanded their capacity significantly. Also, the recent reduction in oil prices has also helped airlines to reduce airfares. The maximum drop in airfares has been 38 percent in Bengaluru-Kolkata flight, which has come down from Rs 10,195 last year to Rs 6,319.
New Delhi. Traveling home by plane during Diwali will be cheaper than last year. The main reason for this is that the average airfare on many domestic routes has come down by 20-25 percent compared to last year. In fact, increased capacity and the recent drop in oil prices are considered to be one of the factors in the fall in air ticket prices.
An analysis by travel portal ixigo showed that the average airfare on domestic routes has come down by 20-25 percent. These prices are one-way average fares based on an advance purchase date of 30 days. In 2023, this time period was between November 10-16, while this year it is October 28-November 3. This is the time around Diwali.
Bangalore-Kolkata flight became cheaper
This year, the highest drop in average airfare of 38 percent was recorded for the Bangalore-Kolkata flight, which has come down to Rs 6,319 from Rs 10,195 last year. The ticket price on the Chennai-Kolkata route has dropped by 36 per cent to Rs 5,604 from Rs 8,725. The average airfare for a Mumbai-Delhi flight has fallen by 34 per cent to Rs 5,762 from Rs 8,788.
Similarly, ticket prices on the Delhi-Udaipur route have come down by 34 per cent from Rs 11,296 to Rs 7,469. The drop is 32 per cent on Delhi-Kolkata, Hyderabad-Delhi and Delhi-Srinagar routes. Last year, airfares had surged around Diwali due to limited capacity, which was mainly due to the suspension of Go First Airlines.
Benefit of reduction in oil prices
Another major reason for the reduction in fares is the reduction in oil prices. This year, oil prices have fallen by 15 per cent, giving passengers more affordable options during the festive season. However, oil prices are currently slightly upward due to rising geopolitical tensions. This has led to an increase of up to 34 per cent in airfares on some routes.
The ticket price on the Ahmedabad-Delhi route has increased by 34 per cent from Rs 6,533 to Rs 8,758, while on the Mumbai-Dehradun route it has risen by 33 per cent from Rs 11,710 to Rs 15,527.
