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Flying Home For Diwali Gets Costlier: India Records First Flight Capacity Decline Since COVID
Sentiment: NeutralHigh Priority
What Happened?
India has seen its first decline in flight capacity for Diwali since the COVID pandemic, with airlines scheduling fewer flights due to rising costs. This has made festive travel significantly more expensive.
Key points
- Airlines scheduled approximately 6% fewer flights for October and November 2026 compared to last year.
- Peak airfares on routes like Mumbai-Ahmedabad reached ₹23,000 and Delhi-Mumbai tickets hit ₹26,500.
- Domestic passenger traffic fell 6.5% year-on-year in September 2026.
- Higher aviation turbine fuel prices and a depreciating rupee are contributing to rising airfares.
- IndiGo reported a 1% reduction in capacity and a 4.5% drop in passengers during the September quarter.
Key insights
- The reduction in flights may lead to increased competition among airlines to attract passengers despite higher costs.
- Passengers may need to book flights earlier or consider alternative travel options like trains or buses.
- The aviation industry's ability to balance cost management with passenger demand is becoming increasingly critical.
Why it matters
The decline in flight capacity could affect many travelers planning to return home for the Diwali festival.
Source
Times Now
