India-Pak match sends airfares soaring:Delhi-Colombo fares jump 5x to ₹1.45 lakh; hotel rates hit ₹1.13 lakh

The India vs Pakistan match in the T20 Cricket World Cup 2026 will be played on February 15 at 7 PM in Colombo, Sri Lanka. With fans rushing to attend the high-voltage clash, airfares and hotel prices have surged sharply. According to MakeMyTrip data on Tuesday (February 10), flight fares from Delhi and Mumbai to Colombo for February 14 and 15 have increased by nearly five times. One-way air tickets are now priced as high as ₹1.45 lakh per passenger, compared to regular fares of around ₹30,000 for direct flights. Hotel prices in Colombo have also skyrocketed, with room tariffs at premium hotels reaching up to ₹1.13 lakh per night. Delhi–Colombo flight duration: 4 hours A non-stop flight from Delhi to Colombo takes approximately 4 hours. February 14 (one day before the match): Match day – February 15 (Sunday): With limited availability and massive demand, travel costs are expected to remain elevated closer to match day.
Mumbai–Colombo flight time is 3 hours A non-stop flight from Mumbai to Colombo takes around 3 hours. Airfares have surged sharply ahead of the India–Pakistan match. February 14: February 15 (match day): Hotel room rates climb to ₹1.14 lakh Hotel tariffs in Colombo have also jumped significantly. For February 14 and 15, the per-night cost of a room for two people in 3-star, 4-star, and 5-star hotels has reached up to ₹1.14 lakh. On regular days, similar hotels typically charge up to ₹40,000 per night. Budget options are still available, with small hotels and guesthouses offering rooms for ₹2,000–₹3,000 per night. India–Pakistan match expected to boost Sri Lanka’s tourism Sri Lanka’s tourism sector is currently facing challenges. According to a Central Bank of Sri Lanka report, despite an increase in tourist arrivals, overall tourism earnings have declined. The report shows that tourism revenue fell by about 5.6% year-on-year in January 2026. Sri Lanka earned $400 million (₹3,622 crore) from tourism in January 2025, which dropped to $378 million (₹3,423 crore) in January 2026. As a result, Sri Lanka is hopeful that the India–Pakistan match will attract a large number of visitors and provide much-needed support to the tourism industry.