Airfares, hotel rates soar for long weekends

Travel agencies say the end of the school and college exam season, and start of summer holidays is inducing holidaymakers to combine the two long weekends for a week-long escape.

One-way airfare for a morning flight on a low-cost carrier from Mumbai to Goa (Mopa) is up four times at Rs 9,500 from the usual Rs 2,300 for the Holi weekend starting March 23. Similarly, fares on the New Delhi to Srinagar sector have jumped by at least two times to Rs 11,200 for the same period. A Chennai-Port Blair non-stop flight on a low-cost carrier is priced at Rs 12,500, which is more than twice the normal fare.

Hotel rates are also heading north. A stay at the cheapest available room (Deluxe Sea View) at the five-star Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa will cost Rs 34,500 – substantially higher than the normal tariff of Rs 19,500. Sea View Presidential and Hermitage villas and cottages are already sold out.

Indiver Rastogi, president & group head, Global Business Travel, Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC Travel, said, “There is clearly no stopping the Indian traveller and with festival breaks being clubbed to create extended weekend breaks, we are witnessing a significant demand uptick for the upcoming Holi-Good Friday opportunity.”

Aloke Bajpai, chairman, MD and group CEO, ixigo, said, “Domestic fares for popular routes have shot up 25-30% in the last week of March as travellers are making most of the back-to-back long weekend. International travel is also picking up with Dubai, Singapore, Bali and Bangkok emerging as favourites this Holi.”

Premiumisation trend is getting more visible in the travel space. A rising number of leisure travellers opting for the premium segment.

Rajesh Magow, co-founder and group CEO, MakeMyTrip, said, “We’re seeing a significant uptick in leisure bookings. Goa remains the premier domestic flight destination, followed by Srinagar, Guwahati, Port Blair and Bagdogra. While mid-category rooms remain the most booked, the share of premium bookings is higher than usual by close to 10%.”

Airfares are expected to remain at elevated levels given the high number of cases of aircraft being grounded. As per government estimates, a total of 164 planes are grounded for want of spares and servicing.

The airlines’ capacity deployment in February was higher by about 3.4% than the year-ago period, noted an Icra report. It further added that airlines operated at an average of 90% occupancy during February.

In 2023, airfares in India saw the biggest jump in Asia Pacific as airlines capitalised on pent up demand and low aircraft availability, according to trade body Airports Council International.

Tickets to Leh from Mumbai were sold at Rs 50,000 in late May and early June in 2023 compared to its normal fare of Rs 17,000. Delhi to Srinagar tickets were available at Rs 28,000 against its normal fare of Rs 5,000.