Chhath Puja Rush: Domestic Flights To Bihar Cost More Than Dubai Tickets!

As Chhath Puja approaches, the demand for train and flight tickets to Bihar has surged, leading to a significant spike in airfare prices.

Reports indicate that flight fares from major cities such as Delhi and Mumbai to Patna and Darbhanga have skyrocketed, now ranging from ₹13,000 to ₹18,000.

This increase in domestic airfare has made tickets to Bihar more costly than flights to popular international destinations like Dubai, Malaysia, Bangkok, and Singapore, where prices currently range from ₹10,000 to ₹20,000.

Factors Behind the Surge in Airfares

Travel agent Rakesh Arora notes that fare hikes during festive seasons are not uncommon; however, this year's increase is particularly steep. Despite the high prices, tickets for these flights remain scarce, making it challenging for travelers to secure seats. The fare fluctuations are expected to be temporary, with prices anticipated to normalize after the Chhath Puja festivities conclude, as reported by News 18.

During this time, thousands of people travel to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand, causing trains to become fully booked. Travel agents report difficulty in obtaining tickets, even with elevated prices. For example, flights from Surat to Patna during the peak travel period of November 4-6 are similarly priced between ₹13,000 and ₹18,000.

Overall Trends in Airfare

Interestingly, while airfares to Bihar have surged, average domestic airfares have decreased by 20-25% compared to last year due to increased flight capacity and recent drops in oil prices. A report by travel platform Ixigo indicates that this decline reflects average one-way fares based on bookings made 30 days in advance, comparing data from November 10-16, 2023, with bookings from October 28-November 3, 2024.

For instance, the average fare for a Bengaluru-Kolkata flight has dropped by 38%, from ₹10,195 to ₹6,319. Similarly, fares on the Chennai-Kolkata route decreased by 36%, from ₹8,725 to ₹5,604, and Mumbai-Delhi flights saw a fare reduction of 34%, from ₹8,788 to ₹5,762.