For many Indians, Diwali means going home. And like every year, flying home costs more this time around. A LocalCircles survey found that 54% of air travellers going home this festive season are paying over 50% more than they paid in 2025. The survey got nearly 20,000 responses from air travellers across 277 districts. On several busy routes, fares have jumped by 200% or more. The pain is real on the ground. In Ahmedabad, one-way airfares to Delhi have touched ?23,000. The survey also found that one-way fares into Bihar are about three to four times the fares on the return leg, which shows how sharply prices rise on routes where everyone is flying in the same direction. Flyers should not expect relief soon. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said last month that the government will not cap fares this festive season. But this year, the surge is not driven by demand alone. The second reason is the closure of Pakistan’s airspace. Islamabad recently extended its ban on Indian aircraft until 24 November. Both countries shut their airspace to each other’s planes after the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025. Indian airlines now take longer routes to Europe, North America and Central Asia, which means more fuel and higher costs. Early reports estimated that the closure could cost Indian airlines an extra ?307 crore every month. The third reason is dynamic pricing. Airfares are not fixed. They change based on demand and how many seats are left, so the same flight can cost very different amounts depending on when you book. The issue has also reached the courts. The Supreme Court refused to urgently hear a plea seeking a mechanism to cap domestic fares during festivals, where the petitioner’s lawyer said fares had risen by as much as 700%. Meanwhile, the Centre has notified the Bharatiya Vayuyan Niyam, 2026. The new rules take effect from 1 January 2027 and let the Centre direct airlines on fares in extraordinary situations, if public interest demands it. Air Transportation Charges include the base fare, which is what the airline charges to fly you from one city to another before taxes. Then there is the fuel surcharge, which passes higher fuel costs on to you. The Common User Terminal Equipment charge, which differs from airport to airport, pays for shared systems like check-in counters, computer terminals and boarding-pass systems. A Regional Connectivity Scheme fee, introduced by the government, funds flights to unserved and underserved areas. Under Taxes & Fees, the most common charge is the User Development Fee on departures and arrivals, which pays for airport upgrades. The Aviation Security Fee covers security services at airports. GST is charged by the government, and the rate depends on the type of ticket, such as economy or business class. Finally, booking platforms usually add a convenience fee for processing your ticket. For Diwali, which falls on 8 November this year, flying on Diwali day or the day before usually costs 20-40% less than flying on the Friday before. Coming back three to five days after Diwali can be 15-25% cheaper than returning on Bhai Dooj. Travel News - Find latest news and tips based on Indian and World travel including top 10 travel destination, tourism information, how to reach visit and more at Times Now. Senior Copy Editor at Times Network, Akanksha Arora covers Lifestyle, Culture and everything that falls under its big umbrella. When not writing, she ... View More