Diwali travel demand sets the tone for year-end holiday rush, high fares

Domestic and overseas travel surge 20-30% as Indians book flights and hotels early, with Goa, Varanasi, and Thailand topping demand charts

As India gets ready for fireworks and crackers this Diwali, vacationers are making the best of the extended weekend and more, at a price. In the age of dynamic airfares, when prices can zoom within seconds, one-way domestic trips have turned doubly expensive and beyond for several destinations  during the week starting October 20. With hotel bookings and tariffs reflecting a similar bullish sentiment, Diwali has set the tone for the holiday season stretching to Christmas and New Year’s. 

Flights from Hyderabad to Nagpur and Kolkata, which usually cost between ₹4,500 and ₹ 6,500 for the economy class, are now