The upcoming festive season is set to be a costly one for air travelers, with fares predicted to skyrocket on several routes. Despite early bookings and promotional deals offered by airlines, a surge in demand and other factors are driving prices upwards.

Early Booking Doesn’t Guarantee Lower Fares

While booking flights well in advance is often considered a strategy for securing lower prices, this year, the festive season presents a different scenario. Even those who booked months ahead are seeing a significant increase in airfares. For instance, Vistara’s “Freedom Sale,” launched on August 15, offered attractive deals on flights till October 31, 2024. However, the initial cost savings are likely to be negated by the overall rise in fares during the festive season.

Festive Surge in Airfares

Travel websites are reporting a substantial increase in airfares, especially during Diwali and Dussehra in October and November. The surge in bookings, coupled with increased travel demand during the festive season, is the primary driver of this price hike.

Routes Facing Significant Price Hikes

The impact of the rise is most visible on popular routes. For example, fares for flights from Mumbai to Patna have surpassed Rs 20,000, while those from Bengaluru to Varanasi are nearing Rs 24,000. The Bengaluru to Patna route is witnessing an even steeper rise, with fares nearing Rs 30,000. Other key routes like Mumbai to Lucknow and Delhi to Guwahati are also experiencing increased fares, ranging from Rs 14,000 to Rs 18,000.

Government Intervention

Recognizing the affordability concerns, the government has urged airlines to consider increasing flight frequency on domestic routes where prices have risen significantly over the past year. This measure is aimed at easing demand pressure and potentially moderating fares. Airlines are responding by increasing their inventories, which could offer some relief to passengers.

Call for Regulatory Measures

A parliamentary subcommittee previously advocated for route-specific airfare caps and the establishment of a regulatory body to oversee airfares. The panel expressed concerns regarding the ineffectiveness of airlines’ self-regulation measures. However, the extent to which the government will implement these recommendations remains uncertain.

Take Away Points

• Travelers planning to fly during the upcoming festive season should brace themselves for higher fares.
• Booking early may not necessarily secure lower prices due to the overall surge in demand.
• Popular routes are seeing the most significant price increases.
• Government intervention through increased flight frequency is underway, but it is unclear if it will be sufficient to significantly mitigate price rises.
• The government’s commitment to implementing recommendations from the parliamentary subcommittee remains to be seen.