Diwali Airfares Surge as Mumbai Faces High Demand Amid Airport Capacity Limits

Mumbai, 24th October 2024: With Navi Mumbai airport set to commence operations in the first half of next year, this Diwali festive week could mark the last of its kind for Mumbai, where air travel demand far surpasses supply. As expected, airfares have surged, especially for flights to northern cities like Ranchi, Raipur, Patna, and Allahabad, making last-minute travel plans costly for families.

Interestingly, flying non-stop from cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, or Hyderabad to Patna is more affordable than from Mumbai. On Wednesday, the lowest return fare from Mumbai to Patna during the Diwali week was Rs 30,000. In comparison, return fares from Bengaluru or Chennai to Patna were Rs 22,000; from Hyderabad, it was even lower at Rs 18,000. Destinations like Ranchi, Raipur, Bagdogra, and Lucknow also saw steep fares from Mumbai, whereas flights to Dubai or Singapore were priced lower, at Rs 29,000 return.

For those yet to book their Diwali holidays, cheaper destinations from Mumbai include Goa (Rs 10,500 return fare), Chennai (Rs 10,700), Bengaluru (Rs 8,000), and Hyderabad (Rs 7,000). However, the most convenient flights tend to have higher prices, and while more expensive fares come with lower cancellation and date change fees, early booking remains the best option.

Reflecting on Dussehra travel trends, a Cleartrip spokesperson noted a significant rise in airfares across domestic markets. Mumbai saw an 18.4% increase in prices, followed by Bhubaneswar and Lucknow at 12.7% and 12.3%, respectively. Bengaluru and New Delhi also saw hikes, with prices rising by 11.8% and 11.7%. Conversely, Ahmedabad and Kolkata experienced dips of 5.2% and 1.8%, respectively. The spokesperson also revealed that 85% of domestic bookings were made within a month of travel, with only 4.6% booked three months or more in advance.

Easemytrip co-founder Rikant Pittie shared that domestic fares from Mumbai for Diwali 2024 have dropped by 20-25% compared to last year, thanks to recent fuel price reductions. He noted that most advance bookings for domestic travel were made 30 days ahead of the travel date, while international bookings were typically made around 60 days prior.

The festive travel season coincides with the start of the airline’s winter schedule, running from October 27 to March 29. Airlines will operate 25,007 weekly flights during this period, a 3% increase from the summer schedule, as per the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Mumbai airport, however, has capped daily operations at under 1,000 flights to improve punctuality.

Earlier this year, the civil aviation ministry reviewed Indian airports’ on-time performance and found Mumbai’s single-runway airport had the poorest record. In response, the ministry reduced flight operations to enhance punctuality. Currently, Mumbai handles around 950 scheduled flights and a few charter flights daily. Once Navi Mumbai airport becomes operational, the combined capacity of both airports is projected to handle 1,500 daily flights.