Darbhanga: The festive rush at Darbhanga Airport is turning into a logistical nightmare for thousands of passengers trying to return to other states after Diwali and Chhath Mahaparv. With limited seats and suspended routes, travellers are scrambling to secure tickets — often at three to four times the usual price.
According to travel operators, the Darbhanga–Mumbai route has seen the sharpest rise in fares, with prices on SpiceJet ranging between Rs 11,126 and Rs 20,996, while Akasa Air tickets are selling for between Rs 8,590 and Rs 27,570. IndiGo, too, has hiked fares, with prices now between Rs 8,092 and Rs 21,107.
In contrast, inbound passengers arriving in Darbhanga during the same period — between October 30 and November 5 — are paying only Rs 6,000 to Rs 8,000, reflecting a sharp demand imbalance as the festive season ends.
The Darbhanga–Delhi sector has also witnessed a steep climb. SpiceJet tickets are priced between Rs 8,689 and Rs 15,619, Akasa between Rs 9,517 and Rs 16,818, and IndiGo between Rs 6,453 and Rs 15,431. For those flying into Darbhanga, however, prices remain lower — between Rs 4,000 and Rs 5,431.
Travellers to Hyderabad face similar challenges, with IndiGo flights priced between Rs 10,016 and Rs 19,841 for return journeys, while round-trip tickets now average around Rs 6,000. Meanwhile, the Darbhanga–Kolkata route has seen fares climb to between Rs 16,374 and Rs 18,142.
The most severe disruption, however, is on the Darbhanga–Bengaluru route, where SpiceJet abruptly suspended flights on Saturday, leaving passengers with no direct options. Booking for the route has been closed until March 29, when services are expected to resume, with fares already listed at Rs 12,325.
Travel agents say the cancellation has stranded hundreds of passengers who had returned home for the Chhath festival. “Most travellers are now being forced to take connecting flights via other cities or travel to Patna Airport for direct services,” said a local ticketing agent.
Connecting flight fares between Darbhanga and Bengaluru have surged to Rs 10,000–25,000, while direct flights from Patna are now selling for Rs 20,000–42,000 for departures between October 27 and November 5.
With the festival migration season at its peak, airlines have cited “operational constraints” for route suspensions and volatile pricing. However, travellers — especially migrant workers returning to Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka, and Telangana — say they feel “trapped between celebration and cost.”
“The flight tickets are almost unaffordable,” said Amit Kumar, a resident of Samastipur working in Mumbai. “We came home to celebrate Chhath, but now it feels like we’re paying the price for our return.”
As Bihar’s Chhath fervour peaks, the festive joy for many is now tempered by the anxiety of high fares and uncertain journeys back to work.
