Air travel has become significantly expensive ahead of Holi 2026, with ticket prices rising steeply as migrants and families rush to return home for the festival. Airfares on several popular routes connecting metro cities like New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru to cities such as Patna, Kolkata and Gorakhpur have seen increases of over 100%, with some tickets nearing Rs 20,000.

For example, flights from Bengaluru to Gorakhpur are priced at nearly Rs 19,589 before Holi but drop to around Rs 7,000 after the festive season. Similarly, flights from Delhi to Patna and Kolkata have doubled due to high demand.

The surge is driven by dynamic pricing, where airlines increase fares as seats fill up. Limited flights, high demand, and last-minute bookings further worsen the situation. Airlines such as IndiGo and SpiceJet are witnessing heavy bookings on festive routes.

The Supreme Court has called the issue serious and asked the government to submit a report on airfare regulation. However, passengers travelling during Holi will likely continue to face high prices, with relief expected only after the festive rush ends.