Airfares skyrocket before Diwali

MUMBAI: Airlines are having a dhamaka this Diwali. With most flights packed to capacity and the rush for tickets rising every hour as the festival weekend approaches, carriers are cashing in on the demand and have hiked fares at least threefolds across most domestic sectors.

One-way tickets to cities like Kolkata, Jaipur and Thiruvananthapuram went for up to Rs 32,000 on Saturday. Not just the soaring prices, tour operators say those making last-minute holiday plans may not even get direct flights to the destination of their choice.

According to operators, the soaring prices have not proved a deterrant for those planning to take a few days off during the festival. "There are many clients who have booked on these fares as they could not plan in advance,'' the city agent said. While domestic destinations are a clear favourite at this time of the year, countries like Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and even Turkey and Croatia seem to be drawing a number of Indian holiday-makers. So high is the demand that fares to these places too have skyrocketed by at least 30%, with even low-cost carriers taking advantage of the situation.

Fares For Saturday (In Rs)

Mumbai-Delhi: 13,500-18,700

Mumbai-Jaipur: 15,984-32,000

Mumbai-Kolkata: 20.065-29,000

Mumbai-Trivandrum: 11,000-28,000

(Source: Travel portals)