{
  "id": 17468717,
  "title": "Amid Lack Of Government Regulations, Domestic Airfares Surge Over 450 Per Cent During Diwali; Flying Home Costs More Than A Ticket To London",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/amid-lack-of-government-regulations-domestic-airfares-surge-over-450",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-31T19:44:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/amid-lack-of-government-regulations-domestic-airfares-surge-over-450-per-cent-during-diwali-flying-home-costs-more-than-a-ticket-to-london"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mumbai, October 31, 2026: For the Diwali holiday season, domestic airfares in India have surged by more than 450%, becoming more expensive than international routes, according to media reports. The surge has occurred despite the Indian government's failure to enforce a new regulatory framework by the set deadline of October 30. With the regulation in place, airlines have been able to raise prices on key routes to record highs, making domestic air travel substantially more costly than taking a long-haul flight to London or other major Asian hubs. Media analysis shows that routes connecting major cities, such as Mumbai to Delhi, have seen tickets selling for up to five times their usual cost, while return fares have skyrocketed even further. International flights to destinations like London are currently cheaper than domestic routes, with a flight from India to London available for Rs 25,500, compared to Air India's Rs 26,560 for the same route. As the festive season continues beyond Diwali, airfares for New Year's Eve are also expected to rise sharply, further impacting travelers' budgets.",
  "summary": "Mumbai, October 31, 2026: Air travellers in India wanting to visit their hometown or fly for their holiday during Diwali are facing an unprecedented squeeze on their budgets this festive season, as domestic airfares have skyrocketed by more than 450% amidst a regulatory vacuum. Domestic airfares have surged to become more expensive than multiple short- and long-haul international routes, with the…",
  "key_points": [
    "Domestic airfares in India surged 450% during Diwali",
    "Government failed to enforce new regulatory framework",
    "Domestic routes cost more than international flights to London"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}