Flight ticket prices skyrocket before festive season:Airfares to Kolkata Patna from Delhi start from ₹10,000 minimum for Durga Puja Chhath

Traveling by plane in India is becoming very expensive. As the festival season comes near, flight ticket prices are going up fast. Many people want to travel home to see their families for major festivals like Diwali, Durga Puja, and Chhath Puja. Because so many people want to buy tickets at the same time, airfares are rising across all major Indian cities. Flight Ticket Price Comparison Over the Last 1 Year Period Mumbai to Delhi: According to ‘Skyscanner’, current prices on this route have risen sharply compared to the baseline rates from one year ago. High demand from business and holiday travelers has driven prices up by an average of 16% compared to last year’s average rates. Currently, lowest prices on this route start start around ₹6,000, according to Make My Trip Mumbai to Bengaluru: Fares on this major tech and business route show a significant increase over the last year’s 12-month benchmark, rising by 11% average as festive travel combines with regular business travel. Albeit, as of 25 September, the airfares on this route start from around ₹4,844, according to Make My Trip Delhi to Kolkata: Flight prices on this route show a massive spike compared to one year ago. Ahead of Durga Puja, fares have jumped by 34% compared to last year’s normal rates. Lowest ticket rates on this route were quoted by Make My Trip at around ₹10,000 for dates just before the Puja begins. Durga Puja in 2026 runs from Maha Shashthi on Saturday, 17 October 2026 to Vijaya Dashami on Wednesday, 21 October 2026. Delhi to Patna: This route sees one of the highest price increases compared to last year. Driven by millions traveling for Chhath Puja and Diwali, ticket prices have surged by around 9% compared to average rates over the past 12 months. Airfares from Delhi to Patna for 12 November start around ₹10,000 (on Make My Trip) — a day before Chhath Puja starts on 13 November and runs till 16 November. Reasons Behind the Rise in Airfares Flight prices are rising due to two main reasons: High Festival Demand: Lakhs of people travel to their home towns during the festive months. Since the number of plane seats is limited, airlines raise prices as seats fill up quickly. High Operating Costs for Airlines: Flying a plane costs more today because airplane fuel have become significantly more expensive over the last year. How Much Have ATF and Crude Oil Become Expensive in the Last 1 Year? Fuel is the biggest cost for any airline. It makes up nearly 30% to 40% of the total cost of running a flight. Crude Oil: Global crude oil prices have surged sharply over the last 1 year due to supply limits and global tensions. The contract prices of the global benchmark for oil prices, Brent Crude, have risen 54% year-on-year (YoY) to $105 per barrel on 24 September 2026 from $68 a barrel on 25 September 2026. ATF (Aviation Turbine Fuel): Because crude oil became costly, Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) in India has become over 50% to 80% more expensive compared to the same period last year. This big increase in fuel cost forces airlines to increase ticket prices to avoid heavy financial losses. State oil companies now revise ATF prices every fortnight (every two weeks) or monthly to quickly reflect changes in global crude oil prices. ATF prices were increased to ₹121.28 per litre on 1 September. If you want to travel during this festive season, experts advise booking your flights as early as possible. Comparing ticket prices on websites like Skyscanner, buyhakte, etc can help you spot trends and buy tickets before prices jump even higher.