Bad news for those studying or working outside the state and eager to get home for Dussehra between September 27 and 30. The ensuing festive season has sent airfares shooting up four to five times the normal prices.
The impact is most evident in the New Delhi-Patna sector. A one-way ticket that would normally cost Rs 4,000-5,000 is touching Rs 16,000.
All airlines, including national carrier Air India and private ones such as IndiGo, Spicejet, Jet Airways and Go Air, have raised fares to cash in on the festive rush. The airlines are also offering one-way fare cheaper while making return fare for the same journey costlier.
Ticket costs are expected to rise further, particularly of private airlines, as there is a cap on Air India's ticket prices on the Patna-Delhi route. But once those tickets are sold, the private airlines would have an open field to charge exorbitant prices. The price cap for Air India on the Patna-New Delhi route is Rs 19,739.
For example, the Air India Delhi-Patna evening flight fare on September 29 is Rs 5,469, while that of the afternoon flight is between Rs 11,000 and Rs 16,000. The rising price trend continues on September 30, with the morning flight costing around Rs 13,500. The price suddenly drops to Rs 4,734 on the evening of September 30, when Dussehra ends. And from October 1, it becomes normal with price stabilising between Rs 4,000 and Rs 5,000.
Even economy-class tickets in private airlines are priced above Rs 10,000. To add to fliers' woes, almost all tickets in the economy segment have been sold out leaving people with no option but to buy the overpriced business/premium class tickets. Tickets of Spicejet are being sold for above Rs 7,000, which is on an average 50 per cent costlier than the normal fare.
'This increase in fares can be attributed to two major factors - jet fuel prices, which increased in September, and higher demand for flight tickets in the festive season,' said an IndiGo executive.
'The continuing festivities and increased operating costs for domestic carriers appear to be the key drivers for high airfares to and from Patna. This trend is expected to continue for some time given the approaching high travel season during October to December,' the IndiGo executive added.
Generally, airlines offer promotional fares or flash sales to woo passengers in the lean season. But such offers are rarely seen for the peak season between October and February because it has festivals such as Diwali, Navratri, Dussehra and Christmas.
'When there is a rise in demand against a limited supply, there is scope for private travel operators to make maximum profits. The same goes for flights too. The season will extend pretty much till the New Year and further till February,' said Atul Kumar, a travel agent.
'The trick is to plan early but you almost always miss the deals. If you haven't booked tickets at least a week in advance, your chances of going home are pretty slim,' said Atul, adding: 'Though trains are cheaper, the waiting list is never-ending unless you reserved seats a month ago.'
Abhishek Singh, an entrepreneur and a frequent flier, said: 'If the airlines want more people to travel, they need to have a realistic pricing system, which means price caps on domestic airfares. The government should step in and introduce price capping on airfares.'