All flights to Dhaka have been flying full, a rare feat that industry insiders attribute to the India-Pakistan clash in the Bangladesh capital on Saturday as part of the Asia Cup T20.

On Friday morning, an airline was selling a one-way ticket for Saturday from Calcutta to Dhaka for Rs 19,000, against the normal fare of Rs 4,000-Rs 5,500.

By the afternoon, all airlines had sold all their tickets for Dhaka.

Officials of the airlines operating on the Calcutta-Dhaka route and tour operators said the India-Pakistan tie at Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur - set to start at 7pm - had led to a sudden spike in the demand for tickets, resulting in the fares hitting the sky.

Fans eager to cheer Team Dhoni to victory from the stands had been making frantic calls to tour operators over the past week for a ticket, whatever be the price. Most were unlucky, though, doomed to watching the action on TV.

Air India, which flew Dhoni and his boys to Dhaka last Saturday, said it had been flying full to Bangladesh over the past four days. The aircraft it operates on the route has 142 seats. Jet Airways and Bangladesh-based Regent Airways are booked to capacity, too.

"Cricket fans have taken over and there has been 100 per cent occupancy over the past three days," a tour operator said.

"The flying time - just 30 minutes - makes the venue attractive to cricket fans in Calcutta. One can watch the match and return on Sunday morning," said Anil Punjabi, chairman, east, Travel Agents Federation of India.

"An India-Pakistan match is always a big draw. Watching such a match in Dhaka even after paying a premium air fare is cheaper than flying to Dharamshala, where the two teams will play in the World T20 next month."

Apart from the proximity to home, India's recent performance has been a big boost for the supporters.

India has thrashed South Africa 3-0 and beat Bangladesh in the inaugural Asia Cup match, powered by Rohit Sharma's panache and Hardik Pandya's power.

Businessman Arshad Ayaz Ahmed will fly to Dhaka on a Regent Airways flight on Saturday morning. The Park Street resident had bought two tickets for the match - one for himself and the other for his friend Md Saif.

Saif, however, can't make it to the venue as he has failed to get a flight ticket.

"We tried all airlines but there was no seat, not even a premium one. Even the business class is full. So I have to go alone," Arshad said on Friday. He had been to Dhaka on February 24 to watch the inaugural match.

Class XII student Arijit Chaubey not only had a match ticket but also an invitation for a dinner with Dhoni's team at the Indian embassy in Dhaka. Arijit got a Bangladesh visa on Friday morning but a flight ticket eluded him.

"I wanted to meet Dhoni but didn't expect this kind of rush. I called my father, who is now in Bangkok, to give him the bad news," he said.