Nagpur air fares rise after Diwali, tickets for November 10 to 15 cost Rs 11,015 to Rs 17,779

The festival season brings a growing burden on passengers' pockets. People who live away from home return for Diwali and celebrate with their families, and as a result they have to put up with the arbitrary pricing of airlines.

Air fares from Nagpur to other cities have risen after Diwali. Between November 10 and 15, tickets are selling at Rs 11,015 to Rs 17,779. Flights to Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru are in the highest demand during this period. On some routes, fares are claimed to be two to three times the base fare.

Young passengers working in IT companies usually return from Nagpur to Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru on the second or third day after Diwali. With this in view, airlines have raised fares for November 10 to 15 to between Rs 11,015 and Rs 17,779.

Passengers say fares are raised sharply even when they travel home for the festival, and the same story is repeated on the return journey after Diwali. Companies raise fares so much that people are forced to buy expensive tickets.

The Civil Aviation Minister had asked airlines to keep air fares reasonable during festivals and to ensure passenger convenience. But this does not appear to have had any effect on the companies.

When passenger complaints grow, airlines call it "seasonal demand". Online, each airline shows a different fare, from Rs 11,000 for some to as much as Rs 17,000 for others. The fare is raised further as the load increases.

Several airlines are also offering credit card offers, but passengers do not appear to benefit from them. There is no relief from expensive tickets. The highest fares from Nagpur are for Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Pune.