Kolkata Airfares Soar 71% for Durga Puja
· business
Kolkata’s Festive Fares: A Price to Pay for Puja?
The upcoming Durga Puja festival is set to drive up airfares into Kolkata significantly, with prices rising by as much as 71% compared to other dates in October. The data shows that Kolkata stands out as an anomaly, with fares into the city on October 16 far exceeding those for other dates in the month.
While festivals such as Navratri in Gujarat might seem like prime candidates for inflated prices, airfares into Ahmedabad on October 16 are actually 20.9% below their November counterparts. The key difference lies not in the festival itself but rather in who travels and how they travel. Garba celebrations in Gujarat tend to attract locals rather than drawing in visitors from across India.
In contrast, Durga Puja is a magnet for people from all over the country, creating a surge in demand that airlines are eager to capitalize on. The numbers bear out this theory: while flights into Ahmedabad during Navratri were cheaper, those into Kolkata on October 16 are being charged at an astronomical rate of Rs 14,117.
This is not just about low airline capacity either – cities like Bengaluru and Pune, which have more frequent flights to Kolkata, are still seeing significant price increases. Airlines seem to be charging a premium only for incoming flights, pricing passengers for the privilege of landing at Kolkata’s airport on October 16 rather than charging a flat rate for travel between cities.
The return leg is not the problem – most of the extra cost sits in the initial inbound flight. This means that travelers planning to attend Durga Puja should book their flights well ahead of time, as prices are already 30-day fares on routes where seats are filling. Booking separately for the two legs of your trip can save you around Rs 5,000 per head.
In fact, assuming a round-trip fare will only add insult to injury – and waiting for prices to drop is not an option. Airlines are more than willing to exploit demand and charge accordingly when it comes to pricing. As we head into the festival season, passengers would do well to be aware of these price dynamics and plan their travel accordingly. A little foresight can save you – or cost you dearly.
Reader Views
- DHDr. Helen V. · economist
The Durga Puja price gouging is a stark reminder that India's aviation market remains captive to supply and demand imbalances, where airlines exploit peak travel periods with abandon. The article highlights Kolkata's anomalous fares, but we must consider the structural issues driving these prices: outdated airport infrastructure, insufficient capacity, and inadequate competition in regional routes. To truly address this problem, policymakers should focus on liberalizing airline entry, investing in airport modernization, and promoting intermodal transportation links to ease congestion at India's busiest airports.
- MTMarcus T. · small-business owner
The airline industry's opportunism is on full display here. It's not just about Durga Puja being a draw for tourists; Kolkata's airport is a strategic hub, and the airlines are capitalizing on this by charging a premium for incoming flights. But what's equally galling is that they're doing it with impunity, without any regulatory oversight to speak of. Meanwhile, passengers are left footing the bill, with little recourse or alternative options available. It's time for the government to step in and rein in these price gougers.
- TNThe Newsroom Desk · editorial
It's time for airlines to stop preying on Kolkata-bound passengers during Durga Puja. While the article correctly identifies the surge in demand as the culprit behind the 71% hike in airfares, it conveniently glosses over the elephant in the room: airline pricing strategies are more sophisticated than just responding to demand. They're also exploiting Bengaluru and Pune's frequent flights into Kolkata, charging a premium for passengers who don't have a choice but to book on those routes. The solution isn't just booking early, but rethinking airline policies that prioritize profit over passenger convenience.