As Diwali approaches, flight ticket prices have increased. One thing to note is that even after the festive season is over, there is little hope of the tickets getting cheaper. But there may be some relief in fares on some routes due to low ridership after the festive season, but there is little hope of a major reduction at present.

According to credit rating agency ICRA, the biggest reasons for the increase in fares are rising aviation fuel prices, rupee weakness against the dollar and rising airline costs due to ongoing conflicts in West Asia. Air fares may remain expensive in the future. A permanent relief in fares requires a reduction in aviation fuel prices and removal of barriers to international flights.

Air fares have increased by up to 68% on many routes

According to an ET report, the average one-way airfare for travel between September 1 and November 10 saw a significant increase compared to the same period last year. Fares on the Delhi-Hyderabad route have increased by 68%. There was a 51% increase on the Mumbai-Kolkata route. A fare hike of 39% was recorded on the Delhi-Goa route and 37% on the Mumbai-Bangalore route. It is clear from these figures that passengers are spending more than ever on many major routes.

Air travel has become expensive due to these 3 reasons

1. One of the biggest reasons for the increase in air fares is aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices. The price of domestic ATF increased by around Rs 16 per liter from October 1, after which it was priced at around Rs 137 per litre. According to ICRA, domestic aviation fuel prices in October were 46.2% higher than last year. Fuel accounts for about 30-40% of the total operating cost of airlines. Airlines are also charging passengers extra to compensate for this.

2. Apart from this, the weakening of the rupee against the dollar is another reason why flight tickets are expensive. About 35-50% of airline costs are in dollars. It includes expenses like aircraft fuel, aircraft rental and maintenance. Companies have to spend more money for these services when the rupee weakens.

3. Also, due to the conflict in West Asia, operations of many international flights have been affected. Airspace restrictions, longer alternative flight routes and reduced available flights have increased costs for airlines. This may also affect the seats available for passengers. According to data from aviation analytics company OAG, India’s domestic flight schedule between October and December was down 5% from last year, while seat availability fell 1.2%.

Will tickets become cheaper due to declining passenger numbers?

According to ICRA, the number of domestic air passengers in India declined by 1.9% in the first half of fiscal 2027 compared to last year. At the same time, the number of international passengers traveling by Indian airlines declined by 19.3%. The agency estimates that domestic air traffic may grow by 3-6% in FY2027, while Indian Airlines’ international passenger traffic may decline by 3-6%. Declining passenger numbers after the festive season may see fares come down on some routes, but if fuel remains expensive and flight availability continues to come under pressure, it will be difficult to get any major fare relief.

Will the new government rules make air tickets cheaper?

The central government is framing new rules to curb sudden and arbitrary hikes in air fares. But their purpose is not to fix the ticket price. Under the new system, airlines will have to submit their fare structure to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) a month in advance and also display it on their website. DGCA will monitor these fares. Here, the Supreme Court has asked the central government to submit the final rules by November 16. However, these rules do not guarantee that tickets will be cheaper on normal days or during festivals.