Patna: Air travel to Patna is becoming significantly more expensive ahead of Diwali and Chhath, with fares from several major Indian cities rising to as much as three times their usual levels.
Diwali falls on November 8, while Chhath will be celebrated on November 15. With people returning to Bihar for the festivals, airfares for flights to Patna have risen sharply.
For November 7, fares from major cities to Patna are currently in the range of Rs 17,000 to Rs 28,000, according to the fare details cited in the report.
Delhi-Patna Fare Reaches Rs 20,000
The Delhi-Patna sector is currently seeing fares of around Rs 17,000 to Rs 20,000 for November 7.
Other major routes are also witnessing steep increases:
- Ahmedabad-Patna: Rs 25,000–Rs 28,000
- Bengaluru-Patna: Rs 22,000–Rs 24,000
- Chennai-Patna: Rs 21,000–Rs 23,000
- Mumbai-Patna: Rs 20,000–Rs 22,000
The sharp increase has been attributed to higher festive-season demand and rising aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices.
Airline-Wise Fares For November 7
| Airline | Sector | Fare |
| Air India | Delhi-Patna | Rs 19,048 |
| IndiGo | Delhi-Patna | Rs 18,291 |
| Air India | Ahmedabad-Patna | Rs 27,845 |
| IndiGo | Ahmedabad-Patna | Rs 22,800 |
| Air India | Bengaluru-Patna | Rs 24,628 |
| IndiGo | Chennai-Patna | Rs 24,214 |
| IndiGo | Bengaluru-Patna | Rs 25,685 |
| Air India | Mumbai-Patna | Rs 22,718 |
| SpiceJet | Mumbai-Patna | Rs 21,535 |
| Air India | Chennai-Patna | Rs 23,054 |
Festive Demand Could Push Fares Higher
An official said demand for flights to Bihar typically increases around Diwali and Chhath as people working in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and other cities return home.
The shortage of confirmed train tickets is also contributing to demand for air travel.
According to the official, fares could increase further as the festival dates approach, with prices potentially reaching four times normal levels on some routes.
Fares May Normalise After November 20
The festive rush is expected to continue through Chhath, after which demand could gradually ease.
The official said airfares could return towards normal levels after November 20, once the peak festive travel period is over.
The current fare levels reflect the impact of seasonal demand and dynamic airline pricing as passengers prepare to travel to Bihar for the festive period.
