Airfares soar during Diwali, Kali Puja despite DGCA advisory
The Statesman | 18 October 2025Airlines were advised to increase the number of flights in response to soaring demand, but the move seems to have had little effect on fares.
According to travel portals, a one-way economy-class ticket from Mumbai to Kolkata, which usually costs between Rs 7,000 and Rs 8,000, shot up to an astonishing Rs 27,000 on Thursday. Airfares from Bengaluru, Delhi, and Hyderabad have also surged sharply. Even business-class fares have climbed steeply, with some tickets now priced at over Rs 70,000, compared to the usual Rs 30,000-Rs 35,000 range. With Kali Puja on 20 October, many travellers are taking advantage of the long festive weekend that includes Diwali and Bhai Phonta, prompting a rush of passengers flying home to Kolkata.
Those who could not make it during Durga Puja are now choosing this period to reunite with family and friends. On Thursday, airfares from Mumbai to Kolkata remained around Rs 27,000, and were still hovering near Rs 26,500 for Saturday. Bengaluru-Kolkata tickets, which typically cost Rs 7,000-Rs 8,000, were listed at Rs 15,500 on Thursday and Rs 18,500 for Saturday. From Delhi, the price jumped from Rs 7,000 to Rs 15,000, while Hyderabad flyers were paying more than Rs 18,000 for a one-way trip to the city.
Interestingly, while incoming fares to Kolkata have spiked, outbound flights to metros such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru remain at normal levels.
A senior travel agent said the surge in fares was driven by a massive jump in demand. “Many people are flying back home to celebrate Diwali with their families. The rush began from Thursday as the long weekend starts,” he explained.
He, however, noted that the increase was less drastic than two years ago. “In 2023, the Mumbai-Kolkata fare had crossed Rs 40,000. This year, though it’s still high, the jump is slightly moderate,” said the travel consultant, who added that he had booked his own ticket for Rs 8,000 a day earlier — a fare now costing nearly Rs 30,000. Asked why DGCA’s directive failed to curb the hike, he said, “DGCA advised airlines to keep fares reasonable but did not set any upper limit, so there’s no real cap.” Airport sources confirmed that flight movement has remained almost unchanged despite assurances of additional services.
On Thursday, the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport handled around 52,402 passengers, including arrivals and departures of domestic flights and 5,392 passengers for international flights arrivals and departures. The figures suggest that while passenger numbers are soaring, the number of flights has barely increased — leaving passengers to bear the brunt of festive airfares that continue to touch new heights.
Box
Thursday Figures:
• Domestic arrivals – 172 flights / 28,933 passengers
• Domestic departures – 171 flights / 23,469 passengers
• International arrivals – 19 flights / 3,278 passengers
• International departures – 18 flights / 2,114 passengers
