Diwali travel demand sets the tone for year-end holiday

As India gets ready for fireworks and crackers this Diwali, vacationers are making the best of the extended weekend and more, at a price.

- ROSHNI SHEKHAR

In the age of dynamic airfares, when prices can zoom within seconds, one-way domestic trips have turned doubly expensive and beyond for several destinations during the week starting October 20. With hotel bookings and tariffs reflecting a similar bullish sentiment, Diwali has set the tone for the holiday season stretching to Christmas and New Year's.

Flights from Hyderabad to Nagpur and Kolkata, which usually cost between ₹4,500 and ₹6,500 for the economy class, are now priced between ₹11,500 and ₹16,500, according to EaseMyTrip, an online travel platform. Similarly, airfares from Hyderabad to Delhi have increased from ₹5,500-₹8,500 to ₹8,500-₹18,500. This is even for those who chose to book flight tickets well in advance.

Some deal hunters turned lucky, though. For instance, spot fares for travel just before Diwali have dipped by nearly 25 per cent on some routes, making this an ideal time for travellers planning last minute trips, said Aloke Bajpai, Group CEO, ixigo.

But, on the whole, whether it’s just before or after Diwali, fares have gone through the roof. A Delhi-Mumbai budget airline ticket on October 26 or 27, for example, has risen to as much as ₹20,000-25,000 one way, according to data on travel sites.