Holi Weekend Airfares Soar Up to 185% as Seats Vanish on Key Routes

After the Supreme Court flagged the surge as a serious concern, the DGCA opened a pricing review, urging airlines to add flights.

Overview

One-way tickets for travel on February 28 are approaching Rs 20,000 on some sectors, with increases of up to 185% compared with late March.
Bengaluru–Gorakhpur is listed at Rs 19,589 for Feb 28, while New Delhi–Patna is Rs 11,056 versus Rs 4,502 on Mar 28, and New Delhi–Gorakhpur is Rs 8,563 versus Rs 2,999.
The Supreme Court directed the Centre to file an affidavit within four weeks, with the next hearing slated for March 23, after the Holi rush.
Airlines cite dynamic pricing and scarce non-stop services on regional routes as drivers of the spike, with trains heavily booked and late bookers facing steep costs.
Operational strains since late 2025—delays, cancellations, crew shortages, and reported defects—have tightened effective capacity, and near-term relief before Holi is unlikely.