Festive airfares shoot through the roof, with some domestic tickets touching

SENSEX 74,729.27

+ 413.66

NIFTY 23,146.15

+ 148.80

CRUDEOIL 9,580.00

+ 295.00

GOLD 147,915.00

+ 426.00

SILVER 211,170.00

+ 510.00

SENSEX 74,729.27

+ 413.66

NIFTY 23,146.15

+ 148.80

NIFTY 23,146.15

+ 148.80

CRUDEOIL 9,580.00

+ 295.00

CRUDEOIL 9,580.00

+ 295.00

GOLD 147,915.00

+ 426.00

'; } document.getElementById("lgdv").innerHTML = htmlElements; } function numberformat(i) { return Number(parseFloat(i).toFixed(2)).toLocaleString('en', { minimumFractionDigits: 2 }) } async function gatherResponse(response) { const { headers } = response; const contentType = headers.get('content-type') || ''; if (contentType.includes('application/json')) { return await response.json() } return response.text(); } function getWidth() { if (Math.max(document.body.scrollWidth,document.documentElement.scrollWidth,document.body.offsetWidth,document.documentElement.offsetWidth,document.documentElement.clientWidth) > 991) { document.getElementById("mob").style.display = "none"; document.getElementById("lgdv").style.display = "block"; } else { document.getElementById("mob").style.display = "block"; document.getElementById("lgdv").style.display = "none"; } } getWidth(); THIS AD SUPPORTS OUR JOURNALISM. SUBSCRIBE FOR MINIMAL ADS.THIS AD SUPPORTS OUR JOURNALISM. SUBSCRIBE FOR MINIMAL ADS.

Routes to Bihar and Goa, in particular, have seen dramatic jumps, signaling another round of price pressures as the holiday rush looms.

By Rohit Vaid

Updated - October 17, 2026 at 05:02 AM. | New Delhi

Data from Wego, Cleartrip, and PeekABoo show sharp, double-digit increases across major routes, driven by elevated jet fuel costs, higher fuel surcharges, and ATF price spikes, affecting travel during Durga Puja, Chhath Puja, and year-end holidays.

Festive-season airfares have risen exponentially on several domestic routes, with one-way tickets to destinations such as Patna touching ₹35,000 on peak travel dates amid elevated jet fuel prices and higher fuel surcharges.

Data shared by travel platforms Wego and Cleartrip showed steep increases across key domestic routes during the Durga Puja, Chhath Puja and year-end holiday periods.

The figures are based on bookings counted up to the 12th of each respective month.

Travel window

According to PeekABoo, Cleartrip’s trends tracker, average one-way fares from Chennai to Kolkata during the October 11-20 Durga Puja travel window were around ₹15,500, against ₹7,900 during off-peak periods, an increase of approximately 96 per cent.

Mumbai-Kolkata fares averaged around ₹15,200 during the same period, compared with ₹8,600 off-peak, a rise of about 77 per cent. Bengaluru-Kolkata fares climbed approximately 76 per cent to ₹16,900 from ₹9,600.

Delhi-Kolkata one-way fares averaged around ₹12,300.

Fuel costs

IndiGo said ATF prices had risen by more than 14 per cent over the previous month, taking fuel costs to among the highest levels recorded in the past decade. IndiGo, Air India Group and Akasa Air have introduced or revised domestic fuel surcharges ranging from ₹375 to ₹1,300, adding to the ticket price.

The pressure is particularly visible on routes to Bihar ahead of Chhath Puja. Cleartrip data showed direct one-way fares from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru to Patna climbing to ₹25,000-35,000 on peak days during the November 4-15 festive travel window. The usual base fares on these routes is around ₹4,500-6,000.

Delhi-Patna one-way fares stood at ₹12,500-18,000.

Wego data showed that average fares for October departures from Kolkata to Bagdogra rose 72 per cent over September to ₹6,920.

Bengaluru-Guwahati fares rose 47 per cent to ₹11,620, while Bengaluru-Kolkata fares increased 44 per cent to ₹10,210.

The year-end holiday rush is expected to bring another sharp escalation in ticket prices. Cleartrip data showed that one-way fares from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru to Goa, usually around ₹4,000-6,500, rose to ₹12,000-22,000 for travel between December 20 and 24.

For December 28-31, peak non-stop one-way fares to Goa reached ₹18,000-35,000 or more, according to Cleartrip.

Published on October 16, 2026

THIS AD SUPPORTS OUR JOURNALISM. SUBSCRIBE FOR MINIMAL ADS. THIS AD SUPPORTS OUR JOURNALISM. SUBSCRIBE FOR MINIMAL ADS. THIS AD SUPPORTS OUR JOURNALISM. SUBSCRIBE FOR MINIMAL ADS. THIS AD SUPPORTS OUR JOURNALISM. SUBSCRIBE FOR MINIMAL ADS.Sign into Unlock benefits!

• Access 10 free stories per month
• Get notified by email for early preview to new features, discounts & offers