For millions of Indians who work far from home, the trip back for Diwali and Chhath is not optional, and this year it is costing a lot more. With Diwali on November 8 and Chhath on November 14 and 15, one-way fares on routes into Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh are being quoted at levels close to international tickets. A new survey suggests most flyers are feeling it.
Here is what is driving the surge, what the numbers show, and practical ways to keep the trip home affordable.
What the numbers say
Citizen engagement platform LocalCircles surveyed air travellers and received 19,993 responses from 277 districts, according to India Today. Its findings:
- 72% said they are paying more to travel home this festive season than in 2025.
- 54% said they are paying more than 50% more than last year, including 9% who say fares have more than doubled.
- Only 19% said fares were similar to last year. None reported paying less.
These are respondents' own experiences, not a route-by-route average. Spot checks of fares tell a similar story, though. India Today checked one-way fares for travel on November 7, the day before Diwali, as of October 13:
- Mumbai-Patna: Rs 25,643 (non-peak: about Rs 9,000-11,000)
- Bengaluru-Patna: Rs 26,053 (non-peak: about Rs 11,000-13,000)
- Bengaluru-Varanasi: Rs 17,698 (non-peak: about Rs 8,000-9,000)
- Mumbai-Varanasi: Rs 15,926 (non-peak: about Rs 6,000-8,000)
- Bengaluru-Delhi: Rs 16,469 (non-peak: about Rs 8,500-10,000)
- Mumbai-Delhi: Rs 11,531 (non-peak: about Rs 6,000-7,000)
The Times of India reported earlier in October that some Mumbai-Patna tickets ahead of Diwali had crossed Rs 26,000, with some above Rs 35,000.
Why fares are so high this year
1. Jet fuel is expensive. According to the LocalCircles report cited by India Today, domestic aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices rose by Rs 16 per litre on October 1, from about Rs 121 to Rs 137, after increases in August and September. Airlines had already cut international flying earlier this year when fuel prices spiked during the West Asia conflict.
2. Fuel charges have gone up. IndiGo revised its fuel charge from October 6, its third revision this year. On domestic flights it now ranges from Rs 375 to Rs 1,300 per sector, up from Rs 275-950. Because it is charged per sector, a return trip pays it twice.
3. There is no fare cap. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said last month that the government would not cap fares this festive season. The ministry has asked airlines to keep prices "reasonable".
4. There are not enough aircraft. Demand is running ahead of capacity. In March 2026 the minister said Indian airlines had around 1,700 aircraft on order that had not yet been delivered. Global delivery delays mean airlines cannot quickly add seats on busy routes.
5. Everyone wants the same dates. Festival travel bunches into a few days on either side of Diwali and Chhath, and the cheapest fare buckets on those dates sell out first.
Rail is adding capacity, but tickets go fast
Indian Railways says it will run about 3.4 lakh regular train trips between October 1 and November 30, 2026, up from 3.3 lakh last year. As of October 13, it had notified 8,454 special train trips, according to The Indian Express. The states with the most special trips:
- Bihar: 2,057
- Uttar Pradesh: 1,056
- Delhi: 975
- Maharashtra: 836
- West Bengal: 464
The Railways has also permanently added 412 coaches to existing services compared with last year, including 75 general-class coaches. Central Railway alone has announced 418 special train services from Mumbai, Pune and other stations, including daily CSMT-Gorakhpur specials and bi-weekly LTT-Banaras and LTT-Mau runs.
Confirmed berths on popular trains still disappear quickly. Specials are often notified in batches, so check IRCTC and the RailOne app regularly rather than giving up after one search.
Seven ways to cut the cost of getting home
1. Move your dates by a day or two. The day before Diwali is usually the most expensive. Yatra has said that in its FY26 data, festive bookings kept growing into November even as average fares fell by over 10% month-on-month, which suggests flexible travellers can save. If your leave allows, fly two or three days earlier or come back after the post-Chhath rush.
2. Try nearby airports. For Bihar and eastern UP, compare Patna, Varanasi, Gaya, Gorakhpur, Darbhanga and Lucknow and add the road or rail cost for the last leg. A cheaper flight to a neighbouring city plus a train or cab can sometimes cost less than a direct fare.
3. Split the journey. Fly to a big hub such as Delhi or Kolkata and take an overnight train or bus for the last stretch. It takes longer but can bring the cost down a lot.
4. Check every fare type. Compare the basic fare with the bundled fare once baggage, seat and meal charges are added. With fuel charges applied per sector, the cheapest headline fare is not always the cheapest final price.
5. Set alerts, and stop waiting once you have a reasonable fare. With demand concentrated and capacity tight, fares on peak dates rarely fall close to departure. Once you see a fare you can live with, book it.
6. Watch special-train notifications. Indian Railways said it may notify more services depending on demand. A new special announced a week out may still have berths when regular trains are fully booked.
7. Use card points and travel credits. If you have airline miles or credit-card points, this is a good time to use them, since the cash value of points goes further when fares are high.
The bottom line
This year's high fares come from a mix of factors: higher fuel costs and fuel charges, no government fare cap, a shortage of aircraft, and millions of people travelling on the same few dates. None of these is likely to ease before November 8. The best options left are flexible dates, alternative airports and railway specials.
Sources
- India Today: Flying home for Diwali, Chhath? Why airfares are painfully expensive this festive season (October 15, 2026)
- The Indian Express: Indian Railways to operate 3.4 lakh regular train trips, notifies over 8,000 special trips
- The Indian Express: Central Railway announces 418 special trains from Mumbai
- The Times of India: Patna airfares skyrocket ahead of Diwali, Chhath homecoming
- Social Samosa: Yatra on festive booking patterns
