Soaring airfares take the festive cheer out of flying home for Pune passengers

Diwali travel bookings in Pune are experiencing a significant decline due to soaring airfares and scarcity of confirmed train tickets, according to local travel agents. The rising cost of travel has led many budget-conscious travelers to postpone or cancel their trips, opting for shorter journeys to nearby destinations. Pratiksha Mirji, founder of Happy Women’s Family Trip, noted a drop in tour clients from 70 to around 50, citing high airfares and the inability to secure train tickets as the primary reasons.

Budget travelers are hit the hardest, as they cannot afford even minor increases in tour package costs. Bhutan tours, which previously cost between Rs 35,000 and Rs 50,000 per person, have now risen to approximately Rs 70,000 due to increased airfares and hotel rates. The limited availability of trains from Pune to certain destinations, such as Jammu Tawi and Sikkim, further complicates travel plans.

Mirji suggested that the government should focus on increasing affordable train options and introducing premium services like Vande Bharat. Vijay Thakkar, owner of Hasmukh Travels, reported a nearly 30% decline in bookings, attributing it to the high cost of travel. Popular destinations like Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Puri still attract interest, but the high airfares are forcing many to reconsider their plans.

For instance, a Pune-Delhi flight costs around Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000, while a Pune-Kochi flight exceeds Rs 10,000. Family travel, which usually involves airfares, has become prohibitively expensive, leading many to opt for shorter one-day trips to nearby locations instead.