Air fare hike: Due to high demand before Diwali, air travel will cost a lot in the next few days. According to a report by Business Standard, airfares on some major routes have increased by up to 45 per cent year-on-year. Higher airfares are the main reasons behind the improvement in the post-Covid-19 situation after the second wave and the complete removal of caps on airlines.
With the complete removal of the cap, airlines will be able to accept bookings at full capacity. Apart from this, there has been a sharp jump in the demand for air travel during the festive season.
In comparison, airlines were allowed to operate at 70 per cent of their full capacity during the same period last year. The daily traffic recorded in November 2020 was also less than 50 per cent as compared to the pre-covid times.
However, this year the air traffic has increased to 70-75 per cent of the pre-covid time and is likely to increase further before Diwali. Several airlines have also increased their fares to make up for the losses incurred earlier this year.
Data compiled by online travel portal Xigo shows the average one-way economy class fare on top routes like Mumbai-Delhi, Mumbai-Kolkata. Bengaluru-Kolkata, Delhi-Kolkata have grown by 30-45 per cent more on a year-on-year basis.
The travel portal expects the increase in airfares to continue till the end of Diwali holidays. Alok Bajpai, Group CEO and Co-Founder, AxisGo told Business Standard that the festive season is buoyant and the company has seen an increase in bookings for travelers who are either going home or planning a holiday during Diwali. Huh.
“With the easing of Covid-19 policies and protocols in international destinations, we expect a further increase in the demand for leisure travel for the new year,” Bajpai told the publication.
The report said domestic airlines carried over 3.27 lakh passengers on Sunday, the highest since air travel resumed in May. Improvement in the Covid-19 situation and faster vaccination rates are two reasons that have contributed to the high demand for air travel.
