{
  "id": 8732258,
  "title": "Flying home for Diwali? Indian travellers face soaring festive airfares",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/flying-home-for-diwali-indian-travellers-face-soaring-festive-airfares",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-20T16:22:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/travel/flying-home-for-diwali-indian-travellers-face-soaring-festive-airfares-1.500681606"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Indian travellers returning home for Diwali are encountering higher airfares, prompting concerns about the surge in travel costs. This price increase is evident on both domestic and international routes connecting India with the UAE, as millions of people prepare to travel over the Diwali weekend. Indian expatriates in the UAE may also face higher ticket prices, especially on popular routes from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah to major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.\n\nThe rise in airfares is attributed to airlines' dynamic pricing strategies, where fares increase as cheaper seats are sold and demand rises. Furthermore, India's domestic aviation capacity is constrained, with scheduled capacity decreasing by 5.6% year-on-year in September to 15 million seats. Major airlines such as Air India and IndiGo have also reported declines in their domestic capacity.\n\nTo mitigate the impact of these rising fares, travellers can compare prices across different dates, airlines, and even consider booking alternative airports. Additionally, booking early and considering connecting flights might offer cost savings. However, the surge in demand during the Diwali period continues to challenge travellers looking for more affordable fare options.",
  "summary": "Indian travellers preparing to fly home for Dussehra and Diwali are facing higher airfares, with passengers in India and the UAE raising concerns about the rising cost of festive travel. The increase is being felt on popular domestic routes in India as well as international routes connecting the UAE with major Indian cities, as millions prepare to travel around the Diwali weekend. Get updated…",
  "key_points": [],
  "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."
}