Airlines have a reason to rejoice this Diwali. The festival rush has shot up air fares by 100 per cent and all sectors are witnessing dense traffic as a week-long holiday begins on Friday.
"There has been a rush this year similar to what happens every Diwali. People prefer going home or visiting friends and relatives. Both the domestic and international sectors, especially the Gulf sector, are full," said Arup Sen, executive director, Cox & Kings.
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Thomas Cook Senior Manager Sachin Rampal said: "As it is a long weekend, there are a lot of people travelling. In fact, some people have extended their vacation till next weekend, as a result of which in-coming flights are full for the next weekend."
He added, "While some people are travelling to their hometowns to celebrate Diwali, others are taking short-haul vacations to destinations such as Sri Lanka, Singapore and Thailand."
Cox & Kings booked a one-way ticket on the Mumbai-Delhi sector for Rs 14,000 on Indian Airlines and Rs 9,500 on Jet Airways.
"This is more than double of what one normally pays. Even the LCCs are making merry and charging higher fares. Sectors such as Mumbai-Delhi, Mumbai-Kolkata, and Mumbai-Ahmedabad are chock-a-block," Sen said.
Travel agent Cosmos Agencies' Reji Philip said: "I sold an Air Deccan ticket for Rs 6 on the Mumbai-Delhi route last month. Today, I sold one for Rs 12,000."
On Diwali eve (October 20), all flights including those of Air Deccan, Indian Airlines, and SpiceJet are full on the Mumbai-Delhi route.
"Only business class tickets are available on this sector with Jet Airways, Air Sahara and Kingfisher Airlines," sources said. A one-way business class ticket on Jet and Kingfisher costs around Rs 15,725, while it costs Rs 14,955 on Air Sahara.