As Diwali approaches, travellers from Ahmedabad are facing steep airfare hikes and packed trains to northern destinations. One-way flight fares from Ahmedabad to Delhi have surged to 25,000, while most northbound trains are fully booked until October 25.
The festive travel rush began early, with bookings spiking since July. Normally priced around 4,500, the lowest airfare to Delhi for October 18 now stands at 11,300, with premium fares nearing 24,649.
Diwali Airfares from Ahmedabad
Delhi: 11,300 – 24,649
Ayodhya: 18,000
Varanasi: 22,000
Srinagar: 12,468
Dehradun: 21,524
Kolkata: 17,849 – 21,314
Bengaluru: 8,407 – 11,832
Kochi: 13,622 – 22,925
Dubai: 22,299 – 50,859
Chennai: 13,282 – 18,952
Mumbai: 4,705 – 8,005
Pune: 4,546 – 7,849
Train travellers are also struggling to find seats. Ashram Express, Yoga Express, and Gorakhpur Express show a ‘regret’ status, while Rajdhani Express has a waiting list of 225 passengers. Even trains to Varanasi and Kolkata have long queues, with waitlists crossing 130 and 180, respectively.
A travel agent explained that many airlines block seats in advance and release them later based on demand. “Last year, this strategy backfired, and airlines had to sell tickets at discounts on Diwali day,” he said.