Darbhanga : Airfares to Darbhanga have surged ahead of Diwali and Chhath, with ticket prices on several major routes rising sharply as passengers begin booking their journeys for the festive season.
With Diwali on November 8 and Chhath on November 14 and 15, fares for travel between November 5 and 13 have increased substantially on routes connecting Darbhanga with Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
The steep rise has prompted some passengers to reconsider air travel and look for trains and other transport options to return home for the festivals.
Mumbai-Darbhanga Tickets Cross Rs 30,000
Passengers travelling from Mumbai to Darbhanga are facing some of the highest fares.
During the festive period, a one-way ticket from Mumbai to Darbhanga is listed at Rs 30,196 on SpiceJet, while fares on Akasa Air are around Rs 27,600.
IndiGo fares on the same route range between Rs 24,871 and Rs 25,801, according to the fares cited in the report.
In comparison, tickets for the return journey from Darbhanga to Mumbai are available for around Rs 7,000 to Rs 9,000 on SpiceJet, IndiGo and Akasa Air.
Delhi Fares Reach Rs 21,000
Airfares from Delhi to Darbhanga have also risen considerably.
SpiceJet tickets are priced between Rs 16,593 and Rs 21,430, while IndiGo fares range from Rs 17,557 to Rs 19,498.
Akasa Air tickets on the route are available for around Rs 18,542 to Rs 20,042.
The return journey from Darbhanga to Delhi is considerably cheaper, with fares on the three airlines ranging between Rs 5,000 and Rs 8,000, according to the reported fares.
Hyderabad And Bengaluru Fares Also Rise
Passengers travelling from Hyderabad to Darbhanga are being charged around Rs 22,894 for an IndiGo ticket.
The return journey from Darbhanga to Hyderabad is available for around Rs 7,872.
On the Bengaluru-Darbhanga route, an Akasa Air ticket is priced at around Rs 23,527, while the return fare from Darbhanga to Bengaluru is around Rs 7,374.
There is currently no direct flight between Darbhanga and Kolkata. Passengers travelling between the two cities through connecting flights may have to pay around Rs 26,601 during the festive period.
Akasa Mumbai-Darbhanga Flights See Strong Demand
Akasa Air is scheduled to begin its expanded Mumbai-Darbhanga service from November 6, but seats on flights travelling from Mumbai to Darbhanga between November 6 and 10 are already reported to be filling up.
According to airport sources cited in the report, the Mumbai-Darbhanga flights during this period are seeing strong bookings.
The fare had reportedly been around Rs 14,000 when the airline’s expansion on the route was announced. It has since risen to around Rs 27,600 for a ticket on the November 6 service.
The expansion had raised expectations among passengers that additional capacity would help keep festival-season fares under control. However, the latest fares indicate that demand remains high.
Festival Demand Drives Airfare Surge
The sharp difference between fares for Darbhanga-bound flights and return journeys highlights the impact of one-way festive demand, as large numbers of passengers travel to Bihar for Diwali and Chhath.
With bookings continuing ahead of the festivals, passengers planning to travel by air may face higher fares on popular routes, while those unable to afford the increased prices are likely to consider trains and other alternatives.
