Airfares from Jaipur surge sharply as demand peaks

Jaipur: Travel plans for the New Year have turned significantly costlier for passengers flying out of Jaipur, with airfares on several popular routes climbing to unusually high levels. Destinations such as Goa, Mumbai, Pune and Jaisalmer have seen steep fare hikes, in some cases touching nearly three times the usual rates, as year-end demand overwhelms available seats.

Among the most affected routes is Jaipur–Goa, where ticket prices have crossed Rs 17,000 on select dates. Despite only two flights operating on this route, both are nearly sold out during the peak travel window. On December 30, morning departures are priced at around Rs 17,400, while evening flights are being sold for just over Rs 17,000.

The surge is not limited to holiday destinations alone. Business and tourist corridors such as Jaipur–Mumbai and Jaipur–Pune have also witnessed substantial price escalation. Jaipur–Mumbai, which typically has good flight connectivity with around 13 daily services, is currently seeing fares ranging from approximately Rs 8,400 to nearly Rs 14,000, depending on the airline and time of travel.

Similarly, three daily flights between Jaipur and Pune are selling at prices between Rs 10,800 and Rs 14,000. Even short-haul routes like Jaipur–Jaisalmer and Jaipur–Udaipur are reflecting inflated pricing, with one-way fares hovering around Rs 9,000.

Earlier this month, during operational disruptions faced by a major airline, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had advised carriers against charging excessive fares. Temporary fare caps were introduced based on flight duration and distance. However, as the New Year travel rush intensified after mid-December, airlines appear to have adjusted prices upward again, citing demand-supply imbalance.

For passengers considering rail travel as an alternative, the situation is equally challenging. Trains heading toward major religious and tourist destinations are heavily booked. Routes to cities such as Varanasi, Katra, Haridwar and Rishikesh are reporting no confirmed tickets, and in several cases, even waiting lists have been suspended.

Trains between Jaipur and Mumbai are currently carrying waiting lists exceeding 100 passengers on many services, making last-minute travel extremely difficult.

Fare comparisons across airlines show wide variation. On the Jaipur–Mumbai route, SpiceJet tickets are priced between Rs 8,445 and Rs 9,051, while IndiGo fares range from Rs 9,023 to Rs 11,543. Air India Express tickets are selling for around Rs 10,800 to Rs 11,500, whereas Air India’s full-service flights are priced between Rs 11,200 and Rs 13,958.

Similar trends are visible on routes connecting Jaipur with Jaisalmer, Pune, Udaipur, Bhubaneswar and Indore, where passengers are paying significantly more than on regular travel days.

With limited seats and soaring prices, travel experts advise passengers to book well in advance or consider flexible travel dates. As demand continues to peak through the New Year period, airfares are expected to remain elevated until early January.