Domestic travel
Domestic airfares to popular mountain destinations have surged due to rising demand.
Flights from Mumbai to Dehradun saw a 13% increase in fares, while New Delhi to Srinagar fares jumped by 18%.
Jammu emerged as a hot destination, with bookings up by 147% year-over-year (YoY), ixigo data showed.
A look at increase in flight bookings
| Leisure destination | YoY increase in flight bookings for December 20, 2024 to January 2, 2025 |
| Jammu | 147% |
| Srinagar | 66% |
| Dehradun | 87% |
| Udaipur | 126% |
| Goa | 52% |
| Jaipur | 51% |
| Leh | 30% |
(Source: ixigo)
If you’re planning a trip to scenic winter locales like Dehradun or Srinagar, factor in these increased costs.
International travel
International travellers gravitating toward destinations like Thailand and Bali should brace for higher ticket prices.
Flights from New Delhi to Bangkok saw a steep 51% rise in fares compared to last year. Similarly, fares from Mumbai to Bali rose by 47%, ixigo said.
Interestingly, while some routes have become more expensive, others offer relief.
Flights from Mumbai to London experienced a dramatic 46% drop in fares.
A look at the trends:
| Destination city | YoY increase in flight bookings for December 20, 2024 to January 2, 2025 |
| Bangkok | 166% |
| Phuket | 168% |
| Abu Dhabi | 174% |
| Colombo | 37% |
| Singapore | 53% |
| London | 80% |
| Vietnam | 102% |
| Bali | 96% |
| Dubai | 48% |
(Source: ixigo)
Spiritual travel
The popularity of spiritual tourism has also led to increased demand for flights to cities like Varanasi, which saw a 669% YoY increase in bookings, ixigo said.
While ixigo’s data doesn’t show a direct rise in airfares for these routes, higher demand could lead to price surges closer to travel dates.
Tips to manage year-end travel budgets
Book early: Data shows fares rise significantly closer to departure dates.
Early planning can save thousands.
Flexible dates: Travel during non-peak dates to avoid inflated prices.
Track fare drops: Some routes, like Bengaluru to Kolkata (22% drop), offer better deals this year.
Use fare alerts to catch price dips.
Consider alternatives: For domestic trips, explore buses or trains for shorter distances to save money.
(Edited by : Shoma Bhattacharjee)
