Indian Summer Travel: Airfares To Europe, Leh, Singapore Surge Up To 74 Per Cent

Indian travellers are facing steep airfares this summer as ticket prices to several domestic and international destinations have risen sharply during the peak holiday season of May and June. The cost of flights to Europe, Australia, Singapore, Leh, and Srinagar is considerably higher than last year, with many families reconsidering travel plans.

The increase comes during the peak May-June travel period, when school vacations and extreme heat conditions usually drive strong demand for leisure travel. This year, however, many travellers are finding that ticket prices are substantially higher than usual.

Hill Destinations Witness Strong Demand

Domestic airfares to cooler destinations have seen some of the sharpest increases. According to the Economic Times, Delhi-Leh ticket prices have climbed around 74 per cent compared to last year, while fares to Srinagar and Shimla have increased between 60 per cent and 68 per cent.

Travel demand towards hill stations and cooler regions has remained strong despite the higher prices. Booking data from redBus showed a 38 per cent year-on-year rise in reservations on routes linked to summer destinations. Routes such as Bengaluru-Coorg, Bengaluru-Kodaikanal and Delhi-Nainital have recorded heavy booking activity this season.

Coorg has emerged as one of the busiest leisure destinations, with forward bookings for May rising by around 115 per cent compared to last year. Destinations in the Northeast, including Shillong, Guwahati, Imphal and Dimapur, are also seeing increased tourist traffic.

International Fares Also Climb

Airfares on overseas routes have also increased sharply this summer. Ticket prices to London and Paris are up around 53 per cent year-on-year, while fares to Sydney have risen 38 per cent. Flights to Singapore and Thailand have become more than 40 per cent costlier than the same period last year.

One of the major reasons behind the airfare hike is the rise in aviation fuel costs. According to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global jet fuel prices increased from about $99.40 per barrel at the end of February to $179.46 per barrel during the week ended April 24, marking a rise of nearly 80 per cent in a short period.

Airlines are also facing operational challenges due to airspace restrictions and rerouted flights linked to tensions in West Asia. Longer flight paths are increasing fuel consumption and overall operating expenses.

India has additionally raised aviation turbine fuel prices on international routes by 5 per cent, adding more pressure on airline costs.

Capacity Cuts Add To Fare Pressure

Along with rising costs, reduced flight availability has further tightened the market. IndiGo cut its international seat capacity by 17 per cent in May compared to February levels, according to aviation data.

Air India is also expected to reduce nearly 100 flights daily across domestic and international operations. The airline is likely to make deeper cuts on routes connecting India with Europe, North America, Australia and Singapore.

As a result, many travellers are reconsidering long-haul holidays and instead opting for shorter international trips to destinations such as Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Malaysia, where travel expenses remain relatively lower.

Despite the rise in ticket prices, advance summer bookings are running 20-25 per cent above usual seasonal levels, indicating continued demand for leisure travel during the holiday period.

FAQs

1. Why are flight ticket prices rising this summer?
Airfares have increased due to higher fuel prices, reduced flight capacity, strong holiday demand and longer travel routes caused by airspace disruptions.

2. Which domestic routes have become the most expensive?
Leh, Srinagar and Shimla routes have recorded some of the highest fare increases this summer.

3. Are travellers changing their travel plans because of high fares?
Many travellers are shifting towards shorter international trips and domestic destinations to manage rising travel costs.