Chhath Puja 2026: As the festive season of Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja draws near, airfare prices across India are climbing dramatically. Based on data from multiple booking platforms and aviation industry analysis, flight costs on numerous major and regional routes have surged by 1.5 to 3.5 times their regular rates during this celebratory period. This significant price jump has put considerable strain on the finances of middle-class and working professionals traveling back to their hometowns.

Soaring fares on key routes

With passenger numbers at their peak, routes including Delhi to Patna, Darbhanga, and Kolkata are experiencing unprecedented ticket prices…

Delhi to Patna: Flights that normally go for around Rs 4,500 are now priced starting at Rs 6,000 during Durga Puja and Rs 10,000 during Chhath Puja. On November 7th, the day before Diwali, base fares jumped to Rs 14,000.

Delhi to Darbhanga: This route faces particularly challenging pricing due to fewer available flights. Fares started at Rs 6,500 during Durga Puja and Rs 12,000 during Chhath Puja (November 11), with prices hitting Rs 17,000 on Diwali, November 7.

Delhi to Kolkata: Base fares on this route begin at Rs 8,000 during Durga Puja, Rs 11,000 during Diwali, and Rs 7,500 during Chhath Puja.

4 key factors driving the fare increase

Industry specialists point to four significant factors contributing to this sharp rise in ticket prices…

Increasing ATF costs: Air turbine fuel (ATF), which represents roughly one-third of airline operational expenses, has gone up by 5.46 per cent.

Reduced competitive options: India’s domestic aviation sector is controlled by major players like IndiGo and Air India. This limited competition results in premium pricing, particularly on routes with fewer flight options like Darbhanga.

Reduced flight availability: According to aviation analytics firm OAG, domestic flight capacity has dropped by 5.6 per cent despite strong passenger interest during the festive holidays.

AI-based dynamic pricing: The airline’s AI-based algorithm automatically increases the prices of remaining seats by 2 to 3 times in real-time as search volume and booking speed increase.

Experts’ tips to avoid expensive rentals

To avoid the ‘Festival Fare Surge’ during the festive season, experts have advised travellers to adopt some smart options…Try to travel on major festival days, as airfares are often lower on those days. Choose late night or early morning flights (non-peak hours), which are cheaper than daytime flights. Consider booking flight tickets to other nearby airports around the destination instead of the direct route.

Delhi to Patna Flight Fares

If you’re flying from Delhi to Patna, November 1st and 2nd offer the best deals for your wallet. However, once the Chhath festival gets closer, you’ll notice prices climb significantly. Budget-friendly connecting IndiGo flights on November 1st and 2nd begin at Rs 13,024. Looking for direct flights? IndiGo direct flights on November 1st kick off at around Rs 13,514, while SpiceJet direct flights start at Rs 13,865.

Delhi-Patna Fares by Date

November 1 and 2: Rs 13,024 November 3: Rs 14,712 November 4: Rs 15,976 November 5: Rs 17,039 November 6 and 7 (peak days): Rs 20,219 to Rs 21,379 November 8 and 9: Rs 14,922 to Rs 14,965 November 10: Rs 16,002

Mumbai to Patna Flight Fares

The Mumbai to Patna route is also seeing prices jump up quickly. If you’re thinking about traveling on November 6th, be prepared for premium pricing. The most affordable connecting IndiGo flight on November 1st starts at Rs 18,233. For direct flights on November 1st, SpiceJet offers the lowest fares at Rs 19,644, followed by IndiGo at Rs 20,140.

Mumbai-Patna Fares by Date

November 1: Rs 18,233 November 2: Rs 19,644 November 3: Rs 20,390 November 4 and 5: Rs 23,174 to Rs 24,271 November 6 (costliest day): Rs 28,181 November 7 and 8: Rs 23,137 to Rs 23,263 November 9 and 10: Rs 22,569 to Rs 24,674