Patna: As Bihar enters the festive season, airfares from Patna Airport have soared to unprecedented levels, creating significant hardship for travellers, particularly migrant workers and students.
Tickets on popular routes to Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, normally affordable, have reportedly tripled during celebrations such as Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja. On the Patna–Hyderabad route, one-way fares reached as high as Rs 21,000 during Chhath Puja. Airlines attributed the steep prices to high demand and limited seat availability.
The Delhi–Patna route has been under the most pressure. Fares that typically range between Rs 4,500 and Rs 5,500 jumped to Rs 8,000–Rs 10,000 during the festive period, and in some cases spiked to Rs 13,000–Rs 23,000 during Chhath Puja. Meanwhile, fares for the Mumbai route surged from the usual Rs 7,000–Rs 9,000 to Rs 15,000–Rs 20,000, affecting working professionals and students attempting last-minute bookings.
For Bihari migrant workers and students returning from South India, securing flights to Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai proved particularly challenging. Ticket prices on the Bengaluru and Chennai routes rose by 50–90% compared with normal days, and many passengers were left on waiting lists.
Airlines have urged travellers to book early, citing limited capacity and increased demand as the key drivers of the surge in fares.
