The flight fares from Ahmedabad to the US and Canada have risen by approximately 30%, resulting in increased travel expenses for students. One-way airfares, which previously ranged from Rs 70,000 to Rs 90,000 per person, have now escalated to as much as Rs 1.7 lakh per person.
A student from Ahmedabad, who is scheduled to leave for Toronto next week to pursue her postgraduate course, incurred a cost of Rs 1.47 lakh for her ticket. She noted, “Typically, the one-way airfare is around Rs 80,000 per person. but, due to the influx of students ahead of the fall intake season, there has been a hike in the price of flight tickets.” Likewise, an undergraduate student heading to Canada paid Rs 1.6 lakh for her ticket.
One youth, heading to California for an undergraduate course, expressed dismay at the skyrocketing ticket costs, paying Rs 1.3 lakh instead of the usual Rs 80,000. The unexpected additional expense has disrupted his budget.
December-January witnesses a significant increase in NRI movement, especially during the Christmas-New Year holiday season in the US and Canada, contributing to the spike in airfares.