Flight travel has become very expensive this year for people from Bihar who want to return home for Holi. Airfares to Patna from cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai have risen sharply.
Ticket prices on many routes have more than doubled. Surprisingly, some domestic flight fares are now even higher than international flights.
Due to the Holi rush and limited seats, travelers are facing heavy expenses. At the same time, getting a confirmed train ticket has become almost impossible.
Delhi–Patna Flight Fares Triple
The fare for a flight from New Delhi to Patna has reached about ₹13,000. Usually, the same ticket costs around ₹4,000 to ₹5,000. This means airfares have increased nearly three times for Holi.
There is especially high demand for travel on March 1 and 2. Most flights have very few seats left, forcing passengers to buy higher-priced tickets.
Domestic Flights Costlier Than International Routes
An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Singapore (6E 6131, 6E 1009) costs around ₹15,497. In comparison, some Mumbai–Patna flights are even more expensive, which has surprised travelers.
Higher domestic fares compared to international flights have become a major talking point. Many people are expressing frustration on social media. The festive rush is directly pushing up airfare prices.
Mumbai–Patna Fares Reach ₹16,000–₹17,000
The price of a direct Mumbai–Patna flight for March 1 has reached ₹16,000 to ₹17,000. Normally, the same ticket costs ₹7,000 to ₹8,000, showing that fares have almost doubled here as well.
Mumbai has a large population of Bihari workers, so flight demand rises sharply during Holi. Seats on direct flights are filling up quickly.
Smaller Increase on Kolkata–Patna Route
Flights from Kolkata to Patna have seen a relatively smaller rise. On March 1, tickets were around ₹5,000, compared to about ₹3,000 on normal days.
The increase here is lower than on other routes, mainly because of the shorter distance. However, demand is still putting pressure on seat availability.
Bengaluru and Chennai Routes Also Expensive
Flight fares from Bengaluru and Chennai to Patna have climbed to about ₹15,000, while normal prices are around ₹6,000 to ₹7,000. Many people working in IT and corporate sectors are affected.
The festive season has caused a sudden surge in demand. Limited flights have led to sharply higher fares, forcing travelers to look for alternative travel dates.
Trains Full, Holi Special Buses Introduced
It has become very difficult to get confirmed train tickets to Patna from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Chennai. Tickets for March 1 and 2 are almost fully booked, and waiting lists are long.
To help passengers, around 200 Holi special buses will be operated. Even so, heavy crowds continue to create pressure. This year, traveling home for Holi is proving very costly for flight passengers.
